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10 Dec 2008 - 14:01: EASNA Survey displays an increase in Employee Assistance Programme Utilisation in the Economic Crisi
A survey of members of the Employee Assistance Society of North America (EASNA), the leading trade association for employee assistance program (EAP) providers in North America, shows that the current economic situation has displayed an increase in the utilisation of employee assistance program (EAP) services. The EAP services increasingly in demand address financial, legal, and stress issues.
Survey respondents, which included EAP providers, for-profit and nonprofit organisations and government agencies, showed an 88.2% increase in request for financial services, the highest single service area affected. Requests for help coping with stress were up 82.4%, while requests for legal services were up 41.2%. Requests involving domestic violence and those involving substance abuse were both up 11.8%.
Many EAP providers are working with companies affected by the declining economy in the US. More than 60% of respondents have seen an increase in the number of request to assist laid-off employees, participate in downsizing efforts, or otherwise assist in outplacement services.
A US Federal Occupational Health study of almost 60,000 EAP clients found that the number of people who reported having a lot of difficulty performing work before beginning the EAP was reduced significantly after concluding EAP sessions. Those who reported little or no difficulty performing work increased greatly after using EAP. When beginning EAP counseling, clients reported an average of 2.37 days of unscheduled absences in the prior 30 days. After the end of EAP sessions, clients reported being unexpectedly absent or unproductive an average of .91 days in the previous 30 days-a 62% drop in average lost time away from work.
EASNA President Barb Veder states, "Research consistently shows that EAP services have a positive return on investment. EAP services are cost effective because they reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. Business leaders now consider mental health critical to business success, not just a health care benefit to be administered. At a time when retaining good employees is more important than ever and the economy is challenging even for the best companies in North America, EAP is the smart investment."
For more information contact Bob McLean
bmclean@easna.org
www.easna.org
Easna - The Employee Assistance Society of North America