New figures from employee benefits provider Personal Group reveal more than four in ten (41%) calls to their organisation’s employee assistance programme (EAP) were for mental health concerns.

The data, based on 2160* calls between January and March 2020, shows that more than half (54%) of the helpline calls came from men, as people are able to discreetly access services away from the workplace. Employees accessed the EAP service by provider Health Assured* through Personal Group’s employee benefits platform, Hapi.

The first calls made specifically in relation to the pandemic were in March. Almost one in 20 (4%) employees made a call in relation to covid-19, with more than half (53%) of the calls coming from men. 

Employers’ duty of care

New guidance was issued this week for employers to make workplaces as safe as possible. However, according to Acas, employers’ duty of care extends to supporting mental health in the workplace. Forward-thinking employers are now going beyond the traditional employee benefits package, including the National Living Wage salary and auto-enrolment pension. 

Deborah Frost, chief executive of Personal Group, commented, “Now is the time for employers to take extra care of their people. Making sure that everyone has quick and easy access to counselling services could be crucial to keeping employees on-track during these challenging times. The duty of care should extend beyond the workplace and be available when people need it the most.

“As pressure continues to increase on the workforce, employers are giving their people a safe space to manage their own mental, physical and financial wellbeing through EAPs. Having EAP services available through an employee benefits app or portal means free, confidential advice is easily accessible to employees in times of need.”

 

Article first featured on HR News