Counselling services reduce employee absence levels

Over half (52%) of the workers in a recent survey who had received counselling sessions through an employee assistance programme (EAP) claimed that without this help their concerns would have caused them to miss work.

The study found that only 17% of those questioned felt that their ability to cope with the demands of their job was acceptable before they had counselling, as opposed to 64% afterwards.

This news comes in the same week that the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) published a survey which suggests many businesses are underestimating the cost of work-related accidents and ill health.

A seperate study, commissioned by Bupa and carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, suggests that people who lead unhealthy lives are costing employers, the NHS and themselves £17.7bn every year.