20 Years of EAP Cost-Benefit Research - Part 3 of 3: Taking the Productivity Path to ROI

Abstract

The final article in a three-part series of outcomes in employee assistance in 20 years since pioneering applied research study by internal EAP program at McDonnell Douglas Corporation in the United States. This article reviews large-size studies (N > 26,000; N >59,000; N > 3,500) that measured improvements in work absenteeism and work productivity by users of EAP counseling. The main idea is that rather than emphasizing the potential for healthcare cost savings derived from small part of EAP cases that are more high risk (for alcohol/drug or psychiatric disorders) - as was examined in the McDonnell Douglas study and called the "pareto path" to value - it makes more sense to focus on the large percentage of EAP cases that have workplace-based cost savings form reduced absenteeism and restored productivity after counseling.