Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Business and Psychology 6/2018

04.10.2017 | Original Paper

The Effect of Employee Assistance Services on Reductions in Employee Absenteeism

verfasst von: Ana P. Nunes, Melissa K. Richmond, Fred C. Pampel, Randi C. Wood

Erschienen in: Journal of Business and Psychology | Ausgabe 6/2018

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

Personal and work-related stressors experienced by employees can result in substantial costs to employers in the form of employee absenteeism. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide an important vehicle to assist employees with behavioral health issues, personal concerns, and work-related problems that impact employee absenteeism. This study tested the impact of EAPs on reducing employee absenteeism utilizing a well-matched control group and human resource timecard data. The study recruited employees from 20 areas of state government and used a prospective, quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching. EAP (n = 145) users were matched to non-EAP (n = 145) users on baseline demographic, psychosocial, and work-related characteristics that differentiate the groups. Hours of sick time recorded were provided by human resource offices. Differences in sick leave usage were tested using mixed model repeated measures. A steeper decline in sick leave usage for EAP than non-EAP employees was found, with estimates of 4.8 to 6.5% fewer hours lost per month to illness. Further analysis found that EAP services were most effective in helping clients move from moderate to low levels of sick leave rather than in reducing sick leave for those experiencing chronic absenteeism. Research on the effectiveness of EAPs rarely utilizes well-matched control groups and frequently relies on self-reported outcomes. Using an objective measure of work time lost, this study provides empirical evidence that users of EAP services tend to reduce their absenteeism at a faster pace than non-EAP users experiencing similar challenges to maintaining productivity.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
Specifying a random variance component across persons for the time slope in a linear growth mixed model (rather than the repeated-measures first-order autoregressive process) gives nearly identical results.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Attridge, M. (2013, September). Workplace behavioral health and EAP services: Best practices and future trends. Presented at the American Psychological Association’s Work & Well-Being Conference, San Francisco, CO. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10713/3690 Attridge, M. (2013, September). Workplace behavioral health and EAP services: Best practices and future trends. Presented at the American Psychological Association’s Work & Well-Being Conference, San Francisco, CO. Retrieved from http://​hdl.​handle.​net/​10713/​3690
Zurück zum Zitat Attridge, M., Amaral, T., Bjornson, T., Goplerud, E., Herlihy, P., McPherson, T., … Teems, L. (2009). EAP effectiveness and ROI. EASNA Research Notes, 1(3), http://easna.org. Attridge, M., Amaral, T., Bjornson, T., Goplerud, E., Herlihy, P., McPherson, T., … Teems, L. (2009). EAP effectiveness and ROI. EASNA Research Notes, 1(3), http://​easna.​org.
Zurück zum Zitat Avis, P. (2016). CBT: Not the only solution to stress. Occupational Health, 68(1), 23. Avis, P. (2016). CBT: Not the only solution to stress. Occupational Health, 68(1), 23.
Zurück zum Zitat Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513–524.CrossRef Hobfoll, S. E. (1989). Conservation of resources: A new attempt at conceptualizing stress. American Psychologist, 44(3), 513–524.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kocakulah, M. C., Kelley, A. G., Mitchell, K. M., & Ruggieri, M. P. (2011). Absenteeism problems and costs: Causes, effects and cures. International Business & Economics Research Journal, 8(5), 81–88. 10.19030/iber.v8i5.3138.CrossRef Kocakulah, M. C., Kelley, A. G., Mitchell, K. M., & Ruggieri, M. P. (2011). Absenteeism problems and costs: Causes, effects and cures. International Business & Economics Research Journal, 8(5), 81–88. 10.​19030/​iber.​v8i5.​3138.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., O’Monahan, P., & Lowe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: Prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annuals of Internal Medicine, 6, 317–325.CrossRef Kroenke, K., Spitzer, R. L., Williams, J. B. W., O’Monahan, P., & Lowe, B. (2007). Anxiety disorders in primary care: Prevalence, impairment, comorbidity, and detection. Annuals of Internal Medicine, 6, 317–325.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Quinley, K. (2003). EAPs: A benefit than can trim your disability and absenteeism costs. Compensation & Benefits Report., 17, 6–8. Quinley, K. (2003). EAPs: A benefit than can trim your disability and absenteeism costs. Compensation & Benefits Report., 17, 6–8.
Zurück zum Zitat Richmond, M.K., Pampel, F.C., Wood, R.C., & Nunes, A.P. (2017). The impact of employee assistance services on workplace outcomes: Results of a prospective, quasi-experimental study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(2):170–179. 10.1037/ocp0000018 CrossRef Richmond, M.K., Pampel, F.C., Wood, R.C., & Nunes, A.P. (2017). The impact of employee assistance services on workplace outcomes: Results of a prospective, quasi-experimental study. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(2):170–179. 10.​1037/​ocp0000018 CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Spetch, A., Howland, A., & Lowman, R. L. (2011). EAP utilization patterns and employee absenteeism: Results of an empirical, 3-year longitudinal study in a national Canadian retail corporation. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 63(2), 110–128. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024690.CrossRef Spetch, A., Howland, A., & Lowman, R. L. (2011). EAP utilization patterns and employee absenteeism: Results of an empirical, 3-year longitudinal study in a national Canadian retail corporation. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 63(2), 110–128. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037/​a0024690.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
The Effect of Employee Assistance Services on Reductions in Employee Absenteeism
verfasst von
Ana P. Nunes
Melissa K. Richmond
Fred C. Pampel
Randi C. Wood
Publikationsdatum
04.10.2017
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Business and Psychology / Ausgabe 6/2018
Print ISSN: 0889-3268
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-353X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-017-9518-5

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 6/2018

Journal of Business and Psychology 6/2018 Zur Ausgabe