EAPs in the frontline of dealing with return to work anxiety

EAPs in the frontline of dealing with return to work anxiety

New figures from Towergate Health & Protection’s EAP show a 145% surge in the number of counselling calls in March 2021 compared with the previous year and the start of lockdown.

The rise in contact from the workforce was seen in both telephone and online access. Most calls were from employees worried about symptoms of anxiety, followed by low mood and then depression itself.

Towergate dealt with more than 33,000 calls and delivered 23,000 structured therapy sessions during April 2021.

Rush and tumult

“There may be many reasons for this, including the anxiety of returning to work and the stresses of resuming the rush and tumult of everyday life,” said Brett Hill, distribution director for Towergate Health & Protection.

“As a population, we have had to cope with a great deal over the last year or so. It should perhaps not be surprising that this has had a knock-on effect. We have been conditioned to become socially distant, and the return to busy offices, a hectic commute, and a gear-change in life in general are all likely to bring with them stress and anxiety. The good news is, there’s a lot that employers can do to make sure these problems do not escalate and affect working life. Support is available and employers should make use of it to ensure the wellbeing of their workforce.”

EAPs take the strain

“The figures from Towergate back up the anecdotal evidence we’ve been seeing from across EAP providers,” said EAPA UK board member Paul Roberts.

“Lockdowns led to different kinds of stress for employees from the disruption, the threat of losing jobs, taking on new ways of working or being furloughed. But there was also a break from routine, novelty, opportunities for home working and a better work/life balance. For some people that meant an escape from smaller worries, an easing of the usual work pressures and problems.

“The return to work period has seen a combination of ongoing concerns about job security and exposure to the virus along with a return to ordinary working life and expectations of productivity and performance.

“Again, EAPs have been up to the challenge. Counsellors have been able to provide professional support to the new waves of employees making use of services that will help them restore a sense of control and focus on their wellbeing.”

EAPs in the frontline of dealing with return to work anxiety