A recent study has found that employer efforts to cheer up employees -- getting them treatment, phone counseling, etc. -- makes sense for more than just altruistic reasons.
The research, conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, found that, on average, depressed employees who receive aggressive attention from their bosses worked about two weeks more during the year-long study. Workers are also more likely to keep their jobs when they receive aggressive help, which can reduce the costs of recruiting and training new employees.
According to the Associated Press, "The researchers haven't finished a formal cost-benefits analysis but early results suggest savings from more hours worked averaged to about $1,800 per employee. That far exceeds the program's initial $100 to $400 per worker cost. The benefits also likely exceed other costs, including drugs and therapy too, the researchers said."
Hopefully this will change the way that so many employers perceive depression and its treatment. The productivity costs of depression can be just as real as a broken leg, and employers should provide aggressive treatment options, both for their own benefit and the benefit of the worker.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-29-2007 @ 11:44AM
Anne said...
As one who has suffered from clinical depression most of my adult life, I can vouch for the fact that aggressive intervention and help from employers would surely benefit them and their companies.
The days when I was unable to get out of bed, the days I was too irritable to be around, the hours that just sitting staring into space was about all I could manage, the unreasonable tears were all lost days and hours for my employers, which, of course, meant lots of lost dollars.
Employers' lack of knowledge leads to their lact of empathy and understanding. When employers aggressively seek help for their depressed employees, they gain monitarily for themselves. When the depressed worker knows that the employer cares enough to help, when that worker then gets the help, then, the employer gains, not only increased production from that worker, but, also gratitude which leads to loyalty to the firm.
Because the world that we live in today is so uncertain and chaotic, I think that more and more people are suffering from severe depression. Once that is recognized by management and addressed with help, employers will find themselves with increased production which means increased dollars for the ever important "bottom line."
10-03-2007 @ 9:21AM
Taylor said...
Employers who have tried this in my state (including illegally accessing medical claims databases in an attempt to determine which employees may or may not be depressed) have had some very bad results, including lawsuits.
Maybe employers should also take a look in the mirror and examine the causes for the employee's depression. Is it the employee themselves ? Have they had a history of it ? Or has it been brought on by relentless workplace pressure, lack of job security, or possibily a hostile workplace.
The current trend for companies push off all blame and responsibility for what is happening with their employees on others, is alarming.
I've seen marked improvements in the health (psychological and physical) in former employees from my employer, after they've started working for another company. Enough in fact, to demonstrate clearly, that it was their prior work environment causing the problems, or making chronic problems worse.
We can't let companies wash their hands of their responsibility to look at themselves and allow all blame for a problem to fall upon their workers.