The world of work is evolving at an incredible pace, changing in such a way that employees are finding it hard to keep up. Aware of this pressure, modern organisations care and have a vested interest in seeing their employees succeed both at work and in their personal lives. Since Human Resources practitioners are not generally trained to provide professional therapy, the engagement of appropriately skilled and certified employee assistance practitioners (EAPs) and service providers allows an organisation to help their employees when they are in emotional or mental need. EAP services offer short-term counselling, but can make referrals when longer-term counselling is needed.
“EAP services offer short-term counselling, but can make referrals when longer-term counselling is needed.”
Since the advent of Covid-19, EAPs have been under particular pressure to bring proven employee assistance methods and practices to the forefront. Over the past 10 years, there have been rigorous studies that have shown that top-tier EAPs can help to reduce presenteeism, increase productivity and provide positive clinical outcomes for employees and their family members.
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Workplace Outcome Suite (WOS) demonstrates EAP effectiveness
Workplace Outcome Suite (WOS) is a predominantly US-based, EAPA-endorsed tool that measures five key aspects of workplace functioning, namely: work absenteeism, work presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, and life satisfaction, with a view to demonstrating the level of effectiveness of EAPs in quantifiable business terms.
Survey parameters for the 2020 WOS Report
The research leading up to the 2020 Workplace Outcome Suite (WOS) Report, sampled 35,693 employees and reflected the outcomes of self-reported data collected over a period of 10 years, between 2010 and 2019. A total of 38 different sources provided valid data on all five WOS measures: 20 EAP vendors, 17 employer-based programmes and one industry group of external vendors in the United States. Although 26 different countries are represented, 97 percent of the total cases were from three countries: The United States (72 percent), China (22 percent), and New Zealand (3 percent).
Findings show EAP counselling helps concentration, productivity and moreÂ
Measuring the effectiveness of EAP counselling, the report found significant improvements in all five measures of work presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, work absenteeism and overall life satisfaction. After comparing WOS measures among the respondents at the start of EAP counselling and about three months after counselling ended, the study found:Â
“…all five measures of work presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, work absenteeism and overall life satisfaction.”
- 56 percent of participants reported that their issue was making it difficult to concentrate on work. After counselling, this was reduced to 28 percent of all cases.
- 37 percent reported dissatisfaction with life overall, indicating a level of clinical distress. After counselling, the rate was reduced to 16 percent of all cases.
- 32 percent reported not being engaged in their work. After counselling, the rate of all cases was reduced to 23 percent.
- 29 percent missed a half day or more of work time. After counselling, this was reduced to just 13 percent of all cases.
- 22 percent reported feelings of dread when going to the workplace (feelings of workplace distress). After counselling, this rate was reduced to 13 percent of all cases.
These findings were generally consistent across client age and sex, region, industry, clinical issue, number of counselling sessions, length of treatment, whether the EAP was provided by an external vendor, internal staff, or a hybrid model.
Read Part One of the 2020 WOS Report here https://www.eapassn.org/Portals/11/Docs/WOS/WOS_2020_AnnualReport_PART1_PrimaryResults%20(FINALAUG04%20ATTRIDGE).pdf
Read Part Two of the 2020 WOS Report here
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