Depressed employees who show up to work have a high level of 'presenteeism'. People are showing up to work but not being productive. This comes from a reluctance to consider depression as a legitimate reason to take a sick day.

• An average of 1 (one) out of every 20 (twenty) employees is depressed.
• Depression ranks among the top three workplace problems, following only family crisis and stress.
• Almost 15% of those suffering from severe depression will attempt suicide.

Depression costs employers $44Billion each year in lost productivity (based on a study by JAMA). It was found that each depressed worker cost the company 5.6 hours of lost productivity (per week), which is about $4,500 lost each year per depressed employee.

3% of total sick days are due to depressive disorders and in 76% of those cases, the employee was female.

What does that mean for your business?

Try this formula to see how much you are losing:

The National Institute of Mental Health (USA) says 5% of your workforce is depressed. Each depressed worker costs a company between AU$6,500 - $10,300 (US$5000 - $8000). (Total # of employees) x (.05) = the total number of depressed people at your work (Total depressed staff) x Annual loss per employee = total cost of lost production

For example: A company of 200 employees is estimated to lose up to $103,000 a year because of depressed employees.

This cost is represented in the following ways:

• Absenteeism
• Presenteeism (employee being there but not really 'being there')
• Productivity decreases

Remember this figure comes straight off your bottom line!

How Betterlife Directions can help

Betterlife Directions's Employee Assistance Services are designed to help your employees work through issues such as depression, and return them to their normal productive level.

Click here to fill in our online EAP enquiry/quote request form.

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