EAP impact on work, relationship and health outcomes

Abstract

The employee assistance program (EAP) at Federal Occupational Health (FOH) gathered outcomes data from almost 60,000 clients during the three-year period 1999-2002. Measurement of outcomes at pre- and post-EAP use was incorporated into the standard clinical process for all clients. Outcomes included (1) work productivity as affected by the clients’ emotional problems, (2) productivity as affected by the client’s physical health, (3) the interference of physical or emotional issues on work and social relationships, (4) perceived health status, (5) job attendance/tardiness, and (6) global assessment of functioning (GAF). Results found statistically significant improvement from pre- to post- EAP intervention for all six measures. Unplanned job absence and tardiness in the previous 30 days decreased by an average of 1.5 days per case, and the average GAF rose by 10 percent. Outcomes improvements were evident to a similar degree across clients with different kinds of assessed problems.