In a global study by Oracle, 76% of workers believe their company should do more to protect their mental health.
Covid-19 created a climate that exacerbated the rate employees get burnt out, exhausted and overworked. With remote working becoming the norm to comply with social distancing measures, employees find it difficult to set healthy boundaries between home and work. Many cannot “turn it off” as they work longer weekly hours.
Data collated from Naluri’s member base reveals a 256% increase in people joining the digital therapeutics programme to seek mental health support since the first Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020. At the same time, the number of members who reached out to psychologists in their care teams increased by 150% after the first MCO.
Overall, news of wage cuts and downsizing have people feeling more pressure to deliver out of fear of losing their jobs. This increased pressure does not come without repercussions. In a global survey, 67% of respondents reported experiencing higher stress levels since Covid-19.
To address this growing concern, companies have turned to structured Employee Assistance Programmes to aid their employees in navigating this new environment and provide them with resources to help them manage their stress and well-being.
Why EAPs are here to stay
The 2020 Annual Report for the Workplace Outcome Suite (WOS) measured the effectiveness of EAP counselling on employee performance. The report found significant improvements in five outcomes, i.e., work presenteeism, work engagement, workplace distress, work absenteeism and overall life satisfaction.
An EAP is also a way to signal to employees that the company genuinely cares for their well-being. When employees feel cared for by their company, they will be more loyal to the company and work harder to achieve favourable results. A study by Harvard researchers revealed that medical costs fall by about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs and that absenteeism costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent.
Not all EAPs are equal
Companies must consider what suits their employees’ needs best, whether it is self-learning resources on managing stress, a mindfulness programme, or allotted counselling sessions. EAPs such as Naluri offer customisable solutions that cover a full spectrum of support, from preventative to severe. They allow employers to provide their employees with a personalised solution that matches the individual’s health goals.
Now employees can refer to EAP resources and tools to address work-related problems, even on a more personal level, such as financial advice, crisis management, or parenting advice for working parents. When employees can take charge of their lives for the better, their happiness and quality of life will increase, eventually having a spillover effect on their productivity in the workplace.
EAPs are now also more accessible. For instance, Naluri is available digitally through its mobile app, allowing users to access resources and materials for their well-being at their convenience. This also makes it easier for employers to scale the EAP to their entire workforce, regardless of whether their employees work at home or in centralised offices.
Some EAPs are more activity-based, focusing on tracking members’ activities through applications such as step trackers or calorie counters. Naluri, on the other hand, focuses on the result, relying on clinically significant outcomes to measure the progress of its members and track their improvements. For instance, a reduction in blood sugar levels for members managing their diabetes or an improvement in blood pressure levels for members at risk of heart disease, measured through Naluri’s in-app digital health monitor.
As a digital healthcare provider, Naluri makes it easier for companies to scale to teams working in centralised offices, at home, and in hybrid work modes and provides convenient, outcome-focused healthcare for employees.
This article was brought to you by Naluri’s Mental Health Coaches. Naluri empowers you to develop healthy lifestyle habits, achieve meaningful health outcomes, and be healthier and happier through personalised coaching, structured programmes, self-guided lessons, and health tools and devices. Download the Naluri App today or contact hello@naluri.life for more information on utilising digital health coaching and therapy to become a happier, healthier you.