Job stress is a top source of worry for many and one of the reasons workers seek help through their Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This study—conducted using Arcora EAP data—looks at the prevalence of job stress in Arcora EAP users and its impact on individuals (relative to those using the service for other reasons) and organizations.
In this study—conducted using Arcora* EAP data and published in the Journal of Workplace Behavioural Health—slightly over one third (34.5%) of a sample of at-work employees who accessed assistance through their Arcora EAP reported experiencing job stress. The top-reported stressors were those related to job demands (too heavy of a workload, long hours, work interfering during personal time, etc.) and relationships (problems with supervisors or coworkers), followed by job features (lack of opportunity for participation in decision making, lack of opportunity for advancement, job insecurity, salary, inflexible hours, etc.). Arcora EAP users experiencing job stress reported lower work engagement, health and quality of life, as well as increased work distress relative to other users. Notably, only Arcora EAP users who sought support for job stress reported a negative health change in the past year (compared to those who accessed the Arcora EAP for other reasons).
This research suggests that greater promotion of the use of EAPs to address work-related issues may consequently work to improve both employee health and performance on the job. Additionally, the study proposes that assessments of working conditions by EAP providers like Arcora may also help inform the delivery of organizational-level assistance aimed at enhancing the workplace environment.
*Note this study was published under the previous company name, Arete/Arete HR. All results continue to reflect Arcora practices and outcomes for Arcora clients.
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