EAP counseling can reduce work stress and improve productivity

After use of EAP-provided counselling, problem rates were reduced for the five outcomes, including presenteeism, life satisfaction and employee engagement. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Stress can have a multitude of effects on people, and it shows at work. According to the Workplace Well-being: A Summary of the 2018 Workplace Outcome Suite Annual Report, released in partnership with LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell and the International Employee Assistance Professionals Association, distressed employees spend more than one third of their time at work being unproductive and average one full day off sick per month.

According to the research, employees struggling with mental health or other well-being issues are unable to concentrate on their job, a symptom known as “presenteeism,” for more than a third of the total scheduled work time (54.95 hours or 34 percent)—or about eight total days per month. The report says this is more than twice as much as the typical “healthy” employee.