In today’s fast-paced and often high- stress work environments, supporting employee well-being is no longer optional, it’s essential. One of the most effective tools available to companies is an employee assistance program (EAP), a confidential resource that offers employees support for personal or work-related problems. Backed by data, EAPs have proven to significantly improve workforce productivity, reduce absenteeism, and boost employee morale. Here at LifeSolutions®, we are committed to helping employers implement a successful EAP to support their workforce.
It is estimated that for every dollar spent on an EAP, companies have a cost savings of $4. This savings is reflected in measures of benefit savings, presenteeism/absenteeism, quality, and work injuries, according to osha.gov/workplace-stress.
Mental health issues are among the leading causes of lost work time. Research from the World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work) estimates that depression and anxiety cost the global economy $1 trillion per year in lost productivity. LifeSolutions EAP provides timely interventions that help mitigate such losses — including counseling, legal advice, caregiving support, financial guidance and other services that address employee mental health and well-being.
While research is ongoing in this area, some studies have suggested that employees experiencing mental distress can potentially use, on average several thousand dollars more in health-care services per year than their peers and incur costs around days lost in the range of several thousand dollars per employee (bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/unintentional-overdoses-accounted-for-388-workplace-deaths-in-2020.htm#). This only highlights how employee well- being directly influences retention.
Beyond productivity and retention, LifeSolutions EAP, for one, can play a critical role in disruptive event management and offer immediate emotional support to employees if a crisis occurs.
Offering an EAP indicates to employees that their employer values their well- being — not just as workers, but as people. This can be a key differentiator for talent acquisition in competitive labor markets.
Investing in an EAP is not just a compassionate choice — it’s a strategic one. Organizations that prioritize employee support through EAPs benefit from a healthier, more productive workforce, reduced turnover and a stronger organizational culture, all of which contribute to long-term success.
MBA members can learn more about LifeSolutions EAP at workpartners.com/advocacy/employee-assistance-programs.
Whitney DeStephano
is an account manager for LifeSolutions’ Employee Assistance Program (EAP). With more than 10 years of experience in population health management, she joined the Workpartners team in 2015. With a focus on EAP, she is responsible for strategic planning and increasing member engagement in a variety of LifeSolutions services.
