How much does an EAP Cost?

An employee assistance programme, or simply EAP, as it’s more commonly known, is an employee benefit programme designed to support employers and employees.

The programme provides employees with confidential EAP counselling support to help deal with problems that might affect their work performance, health or wellbeing.

EAPs have been found to be the most effective approach when it comes to helping employees overcome the challenges of work and home life.

It’s also proven to be cost-effective as it tackles the effects of issues that could result in short-or-long-term absences. Either of which could have an adverse effect on the business.

For employers considering investing in an Employee Assistance Programme, there are a variety of EAP pricing models available. Use the link below to discover the cost per employee for your business or organisation.

The price of ill-health

While it might be difficult to calculate the exact price of employee absences because of ill-health, to get an almost accurate idea you’ll have to consider the direct and indirect costs.

The direct charges include national insurance and pension contributions and the indirect include the cost of replacing the absent employees. You’ll also need to consider the time spent by other employees to arrange and supervise cover, conducting return to work interviews, attending capability meetings etc.

With all of the above in mind, in 2017 the Office of National Statistics (ONS) puts the average number of sick days taken by employees that year at 4.1 days. Following that, in a 2018 survey by the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), they estimated the cost of these absences per employee was at £554.

Finally, figures from Public Health England show 131 million working days were lost in 2017 as a result of sickness absences and presenteeism which they said cost the UK economy and government an estimated £100 billion and £15 billion respectively.

Considering the figures above, it’s no wonder employers are now taking steps to address the causes of these absences and is the main reason why you need and EAP solution for your business or organisation.

How much does an EAP service cost?

The cost of an EAP depends on a variety of factors including the type of programme, the number of employees, the industry you’re in and the essential components you require.

There’re a number of different approaches to EAP pricing. While some providers charge ‘per use’, or ‘per call’, other providers charge on a ‘per employee’ basis.

• The ‘per use’ service offers services like telephone support and online resources for a fixed monthly fee and then apply additional charges for other services such as face-to-face counselling as and when they’re used.

• The ‘per call’ option offers their EAP service cost at a fixed cost and then charge employers a flat rate for every call their employee makes to the EAP.

• The most popular however are providers that charge EAP cost per employee in the UK. This option allows you to source an EAP at a fixed price per employee based on the expected use of the service. By knowing the exact employee assistance programme cost, you’re able to carry out better financial planning.

Considering the above, the Employee Assistance Programme Association (EAPA), a non-profit association representing the interests of individuals and organisations concerned with EAP puts the average running charge of £14 per employee per year.

Their research suggests an employer with 500 employees ends up paying as little as £8 a year. They go on to point out that the telephone only counselling service for 2000 employees would work out to around £3.50 per employee per year.

Although the above is a general estimate, it might be worth checking out the EAPA EAP calculator and ROI tool to get an estimate of what you’ll be spending.

You can also check out the EAP pricing page to where we base our estimate on the number of employees you have and the package you’re interested in.

As the most trusted health and wellbeing network in the UK and Ireland, our services make a positive difference in the lives of over 11 million people. Our award willing innovations include a state of the are iOS and Android app, an online portal, 24-hour telephone support and counselling either online, by phone or in person.

When comparing the employee assistance programme cost to employers to the costs of absences and lost productivity, it’s no surprise that the price of the employee assistance programme is considered cost-effective.

Read our article: The Benefits of Providing an EAP