Employee Assistance Programs
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How Whirlpool Boosted Employee Productivity
One organization's data shows that health-related productivity losses cost U.S. employers $227 billion annually. Whirlpool officials are striving to reduce one component, called presenteeism, by providing employees with better mental and physical support at the work site.
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Treatment Guidelines Help Reduce Amount of Services Used for Low Back Injuries: WRCI
In a report released September 5, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based WCRI studied Texas medical treatment guidelines that were implemented by the state in 2007. The study looked at how the guidelines affected workers with injuries of the upper back, lower back, neck, knee and shoulders.
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On-Site Wellness Programs See Growth, Gain Support of Senior Executives
For a majority of employers, the lack of ROI data has not stemmed incremental expansions in the types of services offered at the on-site centers.
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NFL Creates Wellness Program for Current, Former Players
The league is being sued by thousands of former professional football players who say the league misled them about the dangers of concussions.
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Substance-Abuse Intervention Works Best When the Boss Steps In: Study
A new study reveals supervisors must go past detection and aid in enforcement of substance-abuse policies to deter use of alcohol and drugs on the job.
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Lingering Personal Burdens Prompt Employers to Add Alternative Benefits
Easing personal stress is among the goals for adding free or low-cost legal services. One study indicates that workers who do not hire an attorney to help with legal issues are nearly three times as likely to spend five to 10 hours at work dealing with those problems than those who do hire counsel.
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After Workplace Violence Incident, Mental Health Resources a Must
Employers also should work to make sure employees are trained in techniques that can help them prevent or escape violent scenarios.
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Emergency Alaska Preacher: The 'EAP' of the Last Frontier
An oil and gas company operating in Alaska has an employee assistance program in place, but says such a plan might not be able to react quickly enough, given the remote setting. A firm offering in-house chaplain services is there to fill the void.
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EAPs Modernize, but Employees Are Slow to Catch On
Despite the smorgasbord of new services, few employees use their employee assistance program, studies show. The national average for utilization has hovered around 3 percent for years.
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EAP Proves a Giant Step for Ballplayers
For Michael Paolercio, director of employee assistance programs, work-life and wellness services for the San Francisco Giants, winning the World Series in 2010 proved the organization's ability to handle stress and show resilience under pressure.
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Survey: U.S. Workers Feeling Overwrought and Unproductive
Thirty percent of employees say they were ineffective for at least one week due to job-related stress, while two-thirds of U.S. workers reported extremely high stress levels, including fatigue and feeling a ‘loss of control.'
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Facts on U.S. Pet Owners
On average, dog owners spent $225 and cat owners spent $203 annually on routine veterinary visits, says the 2011-12 National Pet Owners Survey.
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Here, Kitty, Kitty: Pet Insurance Benefit Picking Up
First introduced in 1982, insurance policies for pets have grown in popularity and are now offered by thousands of employers. It’s a benefit that costs nothing for employers, and requires little, if any, administration, while providing affordable group rates to employees.
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Significant Attention Paid to Significant Others in Need
Bon Secours Virginia Health System has found that permitting employees to modify their schedules reduces their anxiety and stress.
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Firms Offering Finance Classes to Employees to Allay Anxiety
Employers like McLeod Health in South Carolina realize that their workers' financial worries are spilling into the workplace, hurting productivity and increasing absenteeism.
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Some Employers Are Thinking Outside the Benefits Box
At some companies, benefits sweeteners can extend beyond health and dental in an effort to better retain employees even after the job market improves. Some of the less-routine perks include pet insurance, elder care, free personal trainers and a $500 allowance toward a commuter bike purchase.
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The Yawning of a New Era
Employers scramble for answers on dealing with worker stress and fatigue.
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EAPs Boost Their Post-Recession Profile
As the recession recedes, some companies are repositioning their EAP programs, using them to better support wellness efforts and to offset mental health treatment costs. Caterpillar Inc.
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Survey 30 Percent of Managers Under More Stress
The survey also found that 28 percent of respondents expect their anxiety levels to rise in the coming year. Sixty-four percent said it would be about the same.
