Absenteeism and Other Workplace Indicators of Employee Assistance Program Clients and Matched Controls

Abstract

Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to determine the impact of counselling through an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) on selected work performance indicators. Employee records on absenteeism and other performance criteria were collected for EAP clients and matched controls over a five year time period. Employee records on performance outcomes indicated that EAP clients had higher rates of sick days before, during and after treatment, compared to a matched control group. Additionally, rates of sick days had not significantly changed from before to after treatment among EAP clients. Supplementary data were obtained from EAP counsellors and EAP clients. Counsellor reports revealed that the most common problem addressed by the EAP was personal mental health (46.9%) followed by family problems (30.4%). A survey of EAP clients suggested that the majority of clients were satisfied with the overall quality of services, confidentiality, helpfulness of counsellors, and effectiveness of treatment.