How Continuous Outcomes Tracking Separates Wave From Traditional EAPs
Wave was founded to close the gap left by EAPs: the absence of measurable impact. Instead of a lagging, utilization-only report, Wave continuously tracks outcomes across an entire population. This gives leaders a clear, ongoing view of how employees are actually doing.
Employee mental health has become one of the defining workforce challenges of our time. Burnout, stress, and anxiety are now among the top drivers of absenteeism and turnover.
Despite this urgency, many employers and health plans still lean on traditional Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). And time after time, they are left disappointed. Utilization is low, employees wait weeks for an appointment, and when HR leaders ask for results, they are handed a one-line report showing nothing more than “utilization.”
The problem is not only that EAPs are underused. It’s that they do not provide visibility into whether employees are actually getting better. Without outcomes data, organizations are left with no proof of ROI and no way to connect benefits spend to real business impact.
That’s why continuous outcomes tracking has become the differentiator employers and health plans are looking for. And that’s exactly where Wave is rewriting the playbook.
Why Traditional EAPs Fall Short
On the surface, most EAPs seem like a reasonable solution: free sessions, crisis support, and a referral system. But when you zoom in, the cracks are obvious.
Engagement is incredibly low. EAPs typically reach only 2–5% of employees. For the other 95%, the benefit is invisible.
Access is slow. Therapy appointments through EAPs often take weeks. By that time the crisis may have passed, or worsened.
Support is short-term. Most EAPs operate on a limited-session model. Once those sessions are done, employees are left to navigate the healthcare system alone.
Reporting is minimal. The only number most employers get is utilization. There is no data on whether employees improved, stayed engaged, or relapsed.
This “black box” approach leaves HR and benefits leaders flying blind. You cannot tell if stress is down, if absenteeism is improving, or if your investment is delivering ROI. And when mental health needs go unmet, the downstream costs are massive.
The Hidden Costs Employers Don’t See
Failing to measure outcomes does not mean costs disappear. It only means they are harder to track. The reality is that unaddressed mental health concerns quietly eat into every corner of an organization.
Productivity loss: Depression and anxiety cost the global economy over $1 trillion annually in lost productivity (WHO).
Absenteeism and presenteeism: Employees struggling with untreated mental health issues miss more days. When they do show up, they are often less engaged.
Turnover and replacement costs: When employees do not feel supported, they leave. Replacing a mid-level employee can cost up to twice their salary once recruiting and training are factored in.
Escalating medical claims: Without early intervention, conditions worsen and lead to higher rates of ER visits, hospitalizations, and costly specialist care.
EAPs provide no mechanism to see or address these costs before they spiral. That’s why more employers and health plans are recognizing that outcomes tracking is not optional. It’s essential.
A Better Way: Wave’s Continuous Measurement
Wave was founded to close the gap left by EAPs: the absence of measurable impact. Instead of a lagging, utilization-only report, Wave continuously tracks outcomes across an entire population. This gives leaders a clear, ongoing view of how employees are actually doing.
Here’s how it works:
Validated assessments. Members complete clinically validated tools like the DASS-21 to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Continuous progress tracking. Instead of just measuring at intake, Wave monitors progress over time. Coaches and employers can see trends and intervene early.
Transparent reporting. Employers receive clear reports that show changes in engagement, symptom reduction, absenteeism, and cost savings. Not just how many people accessed care, but how many actually got better.
Coach-first model. Every member is paired with a dedicated, NBHWC-certified coach who personalizes support, curates resources, and monitors progress in real time. If higher-acuity care is needed, Wave navigates members seamlessly into therapy.
By embedding measurement directly into the care model, Wave ensures that outcomes are not only tracked but also used to guide care pathways and improve results over time.
Proof That Outcomes Drive ROI
Outcomes are only valuable if they translate into business results. Wave was designed to connect those dots.
Clinically validated improvement. Within weeks, 70–73% of members show measurable improvement in symptoms of anxiety and depression, with reductions of up to 50%, including in severe cases.
High engagement. 15–25% of employees engage with Wave, five times the typical EAP benchmark.
Retention and adherence. Wave’s 30-day retention is 10x higher than typical wellness apps. This means employees stay with the program long enough to see real change.
Cost savings at scale. In a modeled analysis for a national health plan, Wave projected over $3B in savings by Year 5. The shift came from moving 70% of outpatient therapy demand to coaching and preventing costly downstream events.
One large employer partner recently reported that, after implementing Wave, disability claims tied to stress and depression decreased significantly within 12 months. Employees were not only accessing care. They were improving, staying engaged, and showing up to work with renewed capacity.
Why This Matters Now
The pressure on HR and benefits leaders is intensifying. CFOs want proof that benefits dollars are generating returns. Health plans face mounting scrutiny to show that behavioral health offerings reduce overall costs. And employees themselves are demanding better, faster, more personalized support.
Traditional EAPs cannot deliver on those demands. But continuous outcomes tracking can. It transforms mental health care from a passive, underused benefit into an active, measurable driver of wellbeing and business performance.
With Wave, leaders do not have to guess whether their investment is paying off. They can see it in reduced absenteeism, stronger retention, improved productivity, and modeled cost savings that scale year over year.
FAQ
What makes Wave different from traditional EAPs?
EAPs track utilization only. Wave continuously measures outcomes, showing not just who used the benefit but who actually improved.
How quickly can employees access a coach?
Employees can connect with a dedicated Wave coach the same or next day, compared to weeks of waiting for an EAP referral appointment.
Does Wave work for high-acuity cases?
Yes. Wave coaches are trained to handle a wide range of needs. High-acuity cases are reviewed weekly by our clinical leadership team, and therapy is seamlessly available when needed.
How does Wave prove ROI?
By linking symptom reduction to hard business metrics like absenteeism, retention, and healthcare costs. Wave’s reporting makes it easy to demonstrate savings and justify investment.
Can Wave scale across large populations?
Absolutely. With nationwide reach, NBHWC-certified coaches, and HIPAA-compliant infrastructure, Wave is built for employers and health plans of any size.