Employee assistance programmes: A study on stress reduction in trainee accountants

Abstract

Orientation: Workplace stress has reached endemic proportions, affecting mental, physical and organisational health. Research indicates that trainee accountants experience higher levels of stress compared to other accounting professionals. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) have been developed to assist trainees in managing workplace stress.

Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if participating in an EAP focussed on stress management can reduce perceived levels of stress among trainee accountants.

Motivation for the study: Workplace stress impacts the performance and mental health of trainee accountants. Employee Assistance Programmes can assist in providing stress management strategies.

Research approach/design and method: The study utilised a quantitative, pre-experimental single-group pre-test and post-test design without the use of a control group. Out of a population of 350 trainee accountants, a purposeful sample of 166 trainees who participated in an EAP was chosen to participate in the study. Their perceived stress levels were assessed before and after attending an EAP.

Main findings: The research indicated a statistically significant decrease in the perceived stress levels among trainee accountants who attended an EAP (t = −3.43; p = ≤ 0.01; small effect size).

Practical/managerial implications: The implications are that auditing firms should use EAPs to lower stress among trainee accountants.

Contribution/value-add: The study demonstrated that an effective EAP could help trainee accountants lower their stress levels. In addition, this research is distinctive because it is the first in South Africa to examine the effect of an EAP on the perceived stress levels of trainee accountants.