Coaching as a cure for absenteeism and work stress - Why HR can't ignore it anymore.

Why more and more companies are opting for coaching

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Coaching is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. This is evident from the growing demand for coaching on our platform, where coaching accounts for an average of 17% of all bookings. HR departments and personnel managers no longer see coaching as an optional tool, but as an essential tool in the fight against absenteeism and work stress. It is a solution that helps reduce absenteeism, supports psychological absenteeism, and provides employees with tools for finding a healthy work-life balance.

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Recent research underlines the importance of coaching in the workplace. According to a report by the Trimbos Institute (2021), the number of employees with mental health problems is increasing, which often leads to long-term absenteeism. The costs of mental absenteeism are increasing rapidly and have a direct impact on organizations. Coaching offers tailored support for a variety of challenges — from stress and self-confidence to bereavement and leadership. By giving employees access to coaching, HR can not only reduce absenteeism, but also strengthen mental health and well-being in the workplace.

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1. Coaching as a remedy for mental absenteeism

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Psychological absenteeism is a major problem for many companies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of employees who drop out due to mental health problems is rising year after year. The costs for employers are considerable; in addition to the direct costs of sick leave, there are also indirect consequences, such as reduced productivity and lower motivation among other employees. Coaching plays a crucial role in reducing absenteeism by helping employees with practical techniques to manage work stress and improve their work-life balance.

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Coaches offer guidance that goes far beyond standard stress management. For some employees, coaching can help them deal with grief, deal with trauma, or overcome self-confidence. The beauty of coaching is that it works both preventively and curatively: by paying timely attention to signs of work stress and psychological complaints, HR can significantly reduce psychological absenteeism.

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A practical example: an employee with beginning burnout symptoms receives guidance from a coach who specializes in self-confidence and stress management. By identifying the situation on time and taking action, absenteeism is prevented, which not only benefits the employee's well-being, but also reduces the absenteeism rate within the organization.

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2. Personal development and work-life balance

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At a time when work and personal life are increasingly intertwined, coaching appears to be an important factor in creating balance. Many coaches specifically focus on finding balance, so that employees maintain the mental space to stay happy and healthy in their work and private lives. This focus on work-life balance meets a growing need among employees. The pandemic has accelerated this process, with hybrid working blurring borders and making work stress more likely to seep into the private sphere.

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By connecting employees to a coach, for example someone who specializes in personal life and work stress, they can develop a healthy balance that helps them to function optimally in all aspects of their lives. This not only contributes to their happiness, but also to their productivity and motivation in the workplace. Employees who feel supported suffer less from stress, which directly contributes to a lower absenteeism rate.

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3. Wide range of coaching options for specific situations

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Another reason why coaching is so popular is the diversity of opportunities. Coaching is no longer limited to career or leadership — today, there are coaches for just about every challenge employees may face. On our platform, we offer coaching in the areas of:

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• Bereavement: For employees who have lost a loved one, grief can put a heavy burden on daily functioning. A grief coach helps them to come to terms with this loss and find perspective again.
• Health and diet: Physical health is closely linked to mental health. A health or diet coach can provide support in making healthy choices, which indirectly also promotes energy levels and concentration at work.
• Financial coaching: Financial stress is a major source of work stress and distraction. By giving employees access to a financial coach, they can get help managing money worries, which improves their mental peace.
• Leadership development: For (future) managers, leadership coaching offers tools to better deal with their responsibilities and manage work stress, reinforcing their role and impact in the team.
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This diversity makes coaching effective and accessible to a wide range of employees. Whether someone is struggling with loss, health issues, stress from managerial tasks, or financial worries — coaching offers support that fits each individual's unique needs.

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Investing in coaching for a healthier and more productive team

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Coaching isn't just a trend; it's an effective tool that helps companies create a healthy work environment, reduce absenteeism and better support employees. By offering customized coaching, HR can respond to the specific needs of their team and ensure a lower workload and higher job satisfaction.

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Consider giving coaching a permanent place in your HR policy. Make room for personal development and make sure your employees have the tools to monitor their own work-life balance. Ultimately, not only does the employee reap the benefits of this support, but your organization also benefits from lower absenteeism and a more motivated team.