For Immediate Release
Chestnut Global Partners Predicts Top Trends in EAP and Wellness in 2015
Chestnut Global Partners (CGP) publishes report on five key trends and how
they will impact workplace well-being, behavioral health, and benefits in 2015.
Bloomington, IL — March 10, 2015 — Chestnut Global Partners (CGP), a
provider of culturally-aware employee assistance and wellness programs to
companies worldwide, today announced its predictions for the top trends that will
shape the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) and Wellness industry in 2015.
The report is based on utilization trends among CGP's user base, and a survey
of its customers to gain insights and perspectives on the coming year. CGP has
identified five key developments that are expected to make a large impact on the
market in 2015 and beyond: increased utilization of EAP and wellness services,
the emergence of fatigue management programs as a productivity and disease
management tool, increased use of and demand for mobile health applications,
and rising awareness of the benefits of "fee-based" vs. "Free EAP”. Legislation
across Europe will also have a significant impact on the industry, and is expected
to expand employee participation and utilization in the coming year.
Top Five Trends:

Increased Utilization and Problem Severity: CGP expects EAP and wellness
utilization to steadily increase in the U.S. in 2015. For the second consecutive
year, CGP’s EAP utilization in North America increased at a rate of 7.0%
across its book of business. Reasons included challenges individuals
reported in accessing alternative community mental health resources due to
financial hardships, and requesting authorization to exceed EAP session
limits due to being placed on a waiting list for a higher level of care. CGP also
predicts an increase in problem severity or level of psychological stress, and
EAPs increasingly important role in addressing serious employee mental
health concerns. Utilization of EAP around the world will increase as well, as
EAP continues to serve as the de facto mental health delivery service in many
developing countries due to either an inadequate supply of mental health
providers or inadequacies in the mental health delivery structure.

Emergence of Fatigue Management as Productivity and Disease
Management Tool. While the correlation of a good night’s sleep to one’s
ability to function on a daily basis has been known for years, recent research
is shedding light on the link between inadequate sleep and an increased risk
for diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. As a result,
organizational safety and wellness programs should position themselves to
1003 Martin Luther King Drive
toll-free: 1.800.433.7916
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Bloomington, IL 61701
phone: 1.309.820.3604
chestnutglobalpartners.org
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USA
fax: 1.309.829.2744
offer services that target the underlying causes of fatigue, which range from
undiagnosed medical conditions to unhealthy behavioral and lifestyle habits.

Rising Awareness of the Value of “Fee-Based” vs. “Free EAPs”: There's a
growing recognition that “free or embedded EAPs” typically do not offer the
same level of service as fee-based programs, and thus may not best serve
the organization’s primary objective. More organizations are viewing EAP
through the lens of risk management and productivity, and realize the value of
increasing employee participation in order to increase utilization, positive
behavior change, and ultimately workplace outcomes.

Technology Use Will Become More Central to EAP and Wellness. Recent
innovations in technology and predictive analytics are changing -- and will
continue to drive -- EAP and wellness service delivery. Some EAPs have
already begun to include secure video and evidence-based smart phone apps
into their product offering to help manage health conditions such as stress,
depression, diabetes, and sleep. These trends will continue through 2015 and
beyond.

Increased Opportunities for EAPs in Europe Due to European Union (EU)
Workplace Well-being Legislation. Recent European legislation on mental
health now requires employers to create and implement strategies that
reduce work-related stress. EAPs are well positioned as a third-party provider
to help facilitate an ongoing dialogue between employees and employers
within the works councils. Some of these new opportunities include providing
workplace assistance and wellness across the EU, helping identify/address
key causes of workplace stress, stress prevention training for employees and
managers, and assistance in developing and communicating health
promotion messages that enhance employee resiliency.
"Today's workers are asking for easier and broader access to resources that
address stress, depression, diabetes, and sleep, and in ever-greater numbers
are using mobile health apps to identify their conditions and track positive
behavior change," said Matt Mollenhauer, VP of Operations for CGP.
"Companies that are looking to improve employee productivity and retention -those that want to be viewed as great places and attract top talent -- are driving
the trends we've identified. We predict that more companies that want to excel
will embrace proactive EAP and wellness providers that actively promote
employee participation and utilization in 2015 and beyond."
The full report is available at: http://bit.ly/1E0KrLM
1003 Martin Luther King Drive
toll-free: 1.800.433.7916
•
•
Bloomington, IL 61701
phone: 1.309.820.3604
chestnutglobalpartners.org
•
•
USA
fax: 1.309.829.2744
About Chestnut Global Partners
Chestnut Global Partners (CGP) is a behavioral health organization based in
Bloomington, IL that offers a full range of culturally aware employee assistance
and related workplace services. CGP combines EAP with wellness, disability,
high risk maternity, employee safety and compliance management programs,
designed to promote employee well-being, improve performance and reduce
absenteeism.
Chestnut Global Partners serves companies in over 140 countries, including
Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Russia. Chestnut Global Partners’ Division of
Commercial Science develops and deploys scientific assessment technologies,
outcome measures, and analytical methodologies so that EAPs, wellness
companies, disease management entities and purchasers the world over can
determine the effects and/or worth of their programs. For more, visit
www.chestnutglobalpartners.org.
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For editorial information, contact:
Charles Epstein
BackBone, Inc.
che@backboneinc.com
1003 Martin Luther King Drive
toll-free: 1.800.433.7916
•
•
Bloomington, IL 61701
phone: 1.309.820.3604
chestnutglobalpartners.org
•
•
USA
fax: 1.309.829.2744