Benefits of an
Employee Assistance Program

Employers tell us they invest in EAPs for many reasons. They do so to help employees having personal problems, including those that impact the job, to increase workplace productivity and morale, to support retention and recruitment, and to reduce medical costs.

Troubled employees are at least 20% less productive than the average worker. In fact, a study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that the cost of lost productivity to only one disorder, major depression, is over $31 billion annually.

EAPs are a proven, cost effective solution to many of the problems employers face today. Research shows that each dollar invested in an EAP saves the employer $5.00-$16.00.

EAPs can reduce sick leave usage by 33%, work related accidents by 65%, workers' compensation claims by 30%, lost time by 40%, grievances by 50%, and time spent on supervisor reprimands by 74%.

EAPs Help

	Attract & retain employees		Promote workforce cooperation
	Increase productivity		Enhance organizational health
	Boost morale		Prevent disability claims
	Prevent employee theft		Balance work & personal life

Comprehensive EAPs also address work/life issues that can affect the job. Consider these facts:

	The average U.S. employee spends 53 hours on the job per year resolving family-related events.
	Over the next decade, from 10% to 18% of employees will be caring for elderly family members. Many of these employees will experience increased absenteeism, take extended leaves of absence and early retirement. About one in five will quit their jobs.
	1/3rd of the workforce cares for children under 18. Childcare referral programs can reduce employee absence due to childcare by 40%.
	The American Bar Association states that during a 12-month period, more than half the employees in a typical workforce will experience a legal or financial issue involving "life events" such as marriage, birth, adoption, illness, renting an apartment, buying or refinancing a home, using credit cards or purchasing a car.
	70% of the population do not seek legal counsel due to fear of the cost.
	Employees facing legal problems spend an average of 26 hours per year while on the job and seven days off from work to resolve these issues. In addition, employees spend 29 and 22 hours on the job resolving financial and property-related events respectively.

Offering an EAP with work/life services not only demonstrates that the employer is concerned about the well-being of its employees, it also increases workplace productivity. A Cornell University study involving the "100 Best" companies found that generous work/life benefits were linked with happier, hard-working employees, customers who received better quality products and enhanced service, and with an improved bottom line.