There are times in every company when someone gets sick, needs to take a day off, or is simply not in their usual form. But if individual absences become a recurring pattern and the team’s performance starts to fluctuate permanently, it’s time to get serious. Two phenomena that companies are often unaware of – and yet fundamentally affect them – are called absenteeism and presenteeism.
It’s not just about officially reported incapacity for work. It’s often hidden behind a series of short-term absences, repeated “sick days”, eloquent vacation dates, or oddly timed absences from work. It can be a physical illness, but also psychological exhaustion, family problems, financial stress, or pressure to perform. The employee simply leaves – temporarily and discreetly – from a world where he can no longer function. And the company often ignores his signals because “he has the right to be sick”.
Even less noticeable than absenteeism, but all the more insidious. In the case of presenteeism, the employee goes to work, but his contribution is minimal. He lacks motivation, concentration, energy. He only does the bare minimum, disappears from collective events, reacts mechanically. In extreme cases, he is physically present, but mentally completely elsewhere. And presenteeism is often significantly more expensive than the absence itself – the company pays the salary, but does not receive in return the corresponding performance or added value.
The loss of employees’ mental well-being. Most people do not want to perform poorly. They do not want to be a problem. They simply go through a period when reality begins to get out of hand. That period may be short – but if no one lends a helping hand, it can grow into a protracted problem. And it is at these moments that the enormous importance of the EAP – Employee Assistance Program becomes apparent.
EAP is an employee support tool that allows companies to offer their people professional help. Psychological, legal, financial or social support – provided by independent professionals, confidentially and anonymously – helps to catch problems while they are still solvable. When a person has the opportunity to talk to a psychologist about burnout that is just beginning to appear, they have a chance to prevent a complete collapse. When they can call a lawyer about a divorce or foreclosure, their situation does not have to deteriorate so much that it completely takes over their life – and therefore their work.
Introducing an EAP in a company sends a clear signal: “We care about you even beyond the limits of work performance”. Such a service has an impact not only on individuals, but also on the overall culture of the organization. People feel more confident, willing to talk about problems, they know that help is available and that someone is taking care of them before it is too late. Prevention thus replaces extinguishing crises. The result is more stable teams, fewer absences and a better overall atmosphere.
“A colleague who was always a go-getter suddenly became lethargic, exhausted, and unable to keep up. It was clear that something was wrong, but we didn’t talk about it much – we probably hoped it would go away. Looking back, I think we underestimated it a bit at the time. Fortunately, he used the EAP, started seeing a psychologist and dealing with his burnout and debt problems. It took a while, but today he is back to his normal self – and it was a lesson for us. We are glad that we had that help.”
– HR partner, manufacturing company, 350 employees
Companies that recognize them early and give people a helping hand gain much more than a few extra hours worked – they gain loyalty, a healthier culture, and more resilient teams.
And that is exactly what makes the EAP such a valuable tool. It is insurance against a crisis. And a bridge to ensuring that people are truly present at work – not just physically, but mentally as well.
