The EAP — Employee Assistance Program:
Employers invest in Employee Assistance Programs for a number of reasons. EAP’s are beneficial in reducing business and industry absenteeism due to workplace accidents, alcohol and substance abuse, lost productivity and outside issues that may impact the mental and behavioral well-being of an employee at work. EAP’s also reduce medical costs while supporting productivity, increasing morale, encouraging employee retention, and are a beneficial asset for employee recruitment. EAP’s are not only a cost-effective way to promote productivity, but also demonstrate that an employer is concerned with well-being of those it employs.
What is an EAP?
An Employee Assistance Program provides assessment, short and long-term counseling, and follow-up services to assist employees and their families in resolving personal issues. The Employee Assistance Program is encouraged for employees who notice a problem and are unable to resolve it through their own efforts.
Why Choose an EAP Provider?
Consider the following:
- 1 in 4 members in the US workforce will experience issues which will directly impact job performance and productivity.
- 1 in 3 employees lose time at work due to caregiving for a child or an elderly member of the family.
- In the course of 12 months, over 50% of the US workforce will encounter a major issue involving a life event, such as marriage, birth, adoption, illness, purchasing a vehicle, and purchasing or renting a house or apartment.
- 65 to 85% of all industrial accidents involve troubled employees, while 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of industrial injuries are due to alcohol consumption and substance abuse.
- 36% of employee thefts are directly related to substance abuse.
- Unscheduled absenteeism costs employers as much as $688 per employee per year.
- Approximately 20% of total payroll costs are attributed to absenteeism as well as turnover and new staff training. Exit interviews report that work and life issues are a primary reason for an employee to leave their company.
The Benefits of Choosing an EAP Provider.
- For every dollar invested in an EAP, employers typically save anywhere from $5 to $16, due to a reduction in lost time, a decrease in workplace accidents, and improved productivity.
- EAP’s reduce overall healthcare costs.
- EAP’s improve an employee’s quality of work as well as quality of life at their work and home.
- With an EAP provider available for employees, issues that previously were responded to by management and Human Resources are now in the care of the EAP. Management and Human Resources, as a result, are less distracted and more available to concentrate on their core responsibilities.
- EAPs can reduce sick leave usage by 33%, work related accidents by 65%, workers' compensation claims by 30%, lost production time by 40%, employee grievances by 50%, and time spent on supervisor reprimands by 74%.
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