Employers see significant ROI when helping their employees deal with personal and emotional issues

Morneau Shepell study concludes every $1 invested in an employee and family assistance program provides more than eight times the return on investment

TORONTO, Nov. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - A study conducted by the Morneau Shepell research group found that every $1 invested in an employee and family assistance program (EFAP) translates into a return on investment of $8.70 through a combination of improved productivity at work and less time away from work.

"One of the most critical factors for business success is employee productivity: it impacts an organization's bottom line," said Paula Allen, Vice President of Research and Integrative Solutions at Morneau Shepell. "The personal issues of employees impact their productivity and providing them with an EFAP can help to resolve those issues and protect their productivity."

The Return on Investment for Employee and Family Assistance Programs is the largest Canadian study to assess the impact of employee and family assistance programs on employees and their productivity. It is based on data collected from 80,000 cases in Canada of Morneau Shepell's EFAP, the largest employee and family assistance program in the country.  

EFAP users completed a questionnaire at their first EFAP session after seeking help and another questionnaire at their last EFAP session, providing information on changes in productivity or absenteeism at work.

• 63 per cent of employees said their productivity at work had been negatively impacted in the four weeks before they contacted their EFAP because of the issue that led to them calling.
• Employees seeking help through their EFAP recorded a 35.9 per cent increase in productivity at work, compared to their productivity just before seeking help.
• Employees using their EFAP recorded less time away from work after getting help through the EFAP.
• 46 per cent of employees reaching out to the EFAP said they would have lost time from work were it not for the support they received through the EFAP. In addition one third of those employees also said they would have been off work for more than 20 days were it not for the support they received through the EFAP.

Allen added, "An EFAP is a highly cost-effective and easy-to-implement step for an organization seeking to support its employees and protect the company's productivity. The typical cost of an EFAP is about one per cent of the cost of a health benefits plan. An EFAP is available 24/7 to employees and their family members at any state of need or crisis. Because EFAPs have been around for a while, they are sometimes taken for granted. This new study shows their value very clearly."

The study was conducted in consultation with Dr. Mark Attridge, a well-known independent social psychologist and research scholar specializing in the fields of workplace mental health and employee assistance programs. The dollar value for return on investment was calculated using the average wage for each client's industry based on July 2013 Statistics Canada data and the case cost was standardized to the average.

About Morneau Shepell

Morneau Shepell is the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services. The Company is the leading provider of employee and family assistance programs, as well as the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves more than 20,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With approximately 3,600 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE: Morneau Shepell - Corporate

For more information or a copy of the study, please contact: Nathan Gibson, Morneau Shepell, 416-390-2641, [email protected]; Heather MacDonald, Kaiser Lachance, 647-725-2520, ext.207, [email protected]