As employee wages and overhead costs have risen, EAP suppliers have increased prices to maintain their profit margins. For these reasons and to help procurement professionals make better buying decisions faster, business intelligence firm IBISWorld has added a report on the procurement of Employee Assistance Programs to its growing collection of procurement category market research reports.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 07, 2014
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) have a buyer power score of 3.5 out of 5. Buyer negotiating power is limited by the low availability of substitute services. “As EAPs become more popular and widespread, suppliers will be able to charge higher prices,” says IBISWorld procurement analyst Aileen Weiss. “Nonetheless, low market share concentration provides buyers with some leeway to shop around and compare prices between suppliers.”
Over the past three years, employee assistance programs have increased in popularity. Particularly during the recession, many employees sought mental health services as they and their families fell on hard times. “To address the mental and emotional well-being of their employees, businesses purchased EAPs because they proved to be a positive investment for both the employees and the workplace,” adds Weiss. “Therefore, prices for services increased as demand for the programs grew.”
In the next three years, support for EAPs will continue as the need for mental health services is brought further to the forefront and those that seek such services are accepted. Though the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide wellness programs like EAPs to employees, EAPs make up a very small percentage of the total health benefits a company pays per employee. As a result, buyers may be more likely to purchase such services, knowing that they will not present a huge financial burden. Finally, as the number of businesses and people with health insurance grows, suppliers will be more likely to increase prices.
Even as demand for EAPs rises, buyers will maintain some negotiating power as the number of EAPs grows and market share concentration remains low, providing buyers options. Some of the larger firms include ComPsych Corporation, Ceridian Corporation and ESI. Additionally, the importance of EAPs continues to be brought to light, as evident during the October 2013 government shutdown, when federal-led EAPs remained available to ensure that users could access such services.
Before making a purchase, buyers should ensure that they reduce the stigma of seeking help in the workplace to make sure that employees use these programs and to make certain that money is well spent in the programs. To lock in lower prices, buyers should seek to enter long-term contracts to avoid future price spikes. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Employee Assistance Programs procurement category market research report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld
Like IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189
IBISWorld Procurement Report Key Topics
This report is intended to assist buyers of employee assistance programs (EAPs). EAPs help employees and their family members handle personal problems that may adversely impact their work performance, health and well-being. Such programs center on substance abuse, workplace issues, mental health, personal problems and traumatic events. EAPs generally include short-term counseling and referral services for employees and their household members. These programs are also called member assistance programs (MAPs) or employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs).
Executive Summary
Pricing Environment
Price Fundamentals
Benchmark Price
Pricing Model
Price Drivers
Recent Price Trend
Price Forecast
Product Characteristics
Product Life Cycle
Total Cost of Ownership
Product Specialization
Substitute Goods
Regulation
Quality Control
Supply Chain & Vendors
Supply Chain Dynamics
Supply Chain Risk
Imports
Competitive Environment
Market Share Concentration
Market Profitability
Switching Costs
Purchasing Process
Buying Basics
Buying Lead Time
Selection Process
Key RFP Elements
Negotiation Questions
Buyer Power Factors
Key Statistics
---
About IBISWorld Inc.
IBISWorld is one of the world's leading publishers of business intelligence, specializing in Industry research and Procurement research. Since 1971, IBISWorld has provided thoroughly researched, accurate and current business information. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, IBISWorld’s procurement research reports equip clients with the insight necessary to make better purchasing decisions, faster. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld Procurement serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 07, 2014
Employee assistance programs (EAPs) have a buyer power score of 3.5 out of 5. Buyer negotiating power is limited by the low availability of substitute services. “As EAPs become more popular and widespread, suppliers will be able to charge higher prices,” says IBISWorld procurement analyst Aileen Weiss. “Nonetheless, low market share concentration provides buyers with some leeway to shop around and compare prices between suppliers.”
Over the past three years, employee assistance programs have increased in popularity. Particularly during the recession, many employees sought mental health services as they and their families fell on hard times. “To address the mental and emotional well-being of their employees, businesses purchased EAPs because they proved to be a positive investment for both the employees and the workplace,” adds Weiss. “Therefore, prices for services increased as demand for the programs grew.”
In the next three years, support for EAPs will continue as the need for mental health services is brought further to the forefront and those that seek such services are accepted. Though the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require employers to provide wellness programs like EAPs to employees, EAPs make up a very small percentage of the total health benefits a company pays per employee. As a result, buyers may be more likely to purchase such services, knowing that they will not present a huge financial burden. Finally, as the number of businesses and people with health insurance grows, suppliers will be more likely to increase prices.
Even as demand for EAPs rises, buyers will maintain some negotiating power as the number of EAPs grows and market share concentration remains low, providing buyers options. Some of the larger firms include ComPsych Corporation, Ceridian Corporation and ESI. Additionally, the importance of EAPs continues to be brought to light, as evident during the October 2013 government shutdown, when federal-led EAPs remained available to ensure that users could access such services.
Before making a purchase, buyers should ensure that they reduce the stigma of seeking help in the workplace to make sure that employees use these programs and to make certain that money is well spent in the programs. To lock in lower prices, buyers should seek to enter long-term contracts to avoid future price spikes. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Employee Assistance Programs procurement category market research report page.
Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld
Like IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189
IBISWorld Procurement Report Key Topics
This report is intended to assist buyers of employee assistance programs (EAPs). EAPs help employees and their family members handle personal problems that may adversely impact their work performance, health and well-being. Such programs center on substance abuse, workplace issues, mental health, personal problems and traumatic events. EAPs generally include short-term counseling and referral services for employees and their household members. These programs are also called member assistance programs (MAPs) or employee and family assistance programs (EFAPs).
Executive Summary
Pricing Environment
Price Fundamentals
Benchmark Price
Pricing Model
Price Drivers
Recent Price Trend
Price Forecast
Product Characteristics
Product Life Cycle
Total Cost of Ownership
Product Specialization
Substitute Goods
Regulation
Quality Control
Supply Chain & Vendors
Supply Chain Dynamics
Supply Chain Risk
Imports
Competitive Environment
Market Share Concentration
Market Profitability
Switching Costs
Purchasing Process
Buying Basics
Buying Lead Time
Selection Process
Key RFP Elements
Negotiation Questions
Buyer Power Factors
Key Statistics
---
About IBISWorld Inc.
IBISWorld is one of the world's leading publishers of business intelligence, specializing in Industry research and Procurement research. Since 1971, IBISWorld has provided thoroughly researched, accurate and current business information. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, IBISWorld’s procurement research reports equip clients with the insight necessary to make better purchasing decisions, faster. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld Procurement serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.