The evaluation of stress management services by Canadian organizations

Although there is a recognition that evaluation plays an important role in organizational programs to manage stress in the workplace, the literature shows that few evaluations are conducted and that many suffer from serious methodological inadequacies. A mail survey was conducted with a random sample of 500 Canadian organizations having at least 500 employees. Results from the 210 responding organizations revealed that only about 16% of organizations evaluate such programs and services and even at that major methodological weaknesses are apparent. Results are also presented by industry group and organizational size. Finally, several recommendations are offered to enhance the evaluation role in organizations.This study was supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. An earlier version of the paper was presented at the annual conference of the Canadian Psychological Association in Calgary, June 1991.