Effects of Health and Wellness App on Employee Productivity

Workplace stress is highly prevalent and is linked to poor health outcomes including depression and anxiety. Depression impacts a person's physical ability to complete job tasks about 20% of the time while reducing cognitive performance 35% of the time. Mental health issues are not often properly identified and less than half of people receive treatment. The Calm app is a mindfulness meditation mobile app and has been evidenced to reduce stress, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety/depressive symptoms in a range of populations (e.g., college students, cancer patients, sleep-disturbed adults). The Calm app provides daily, 10-minute, guided meditations grounded in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and Vipassana meditation. Uniquely, the Calm app also offers "Sleep Stories", narrated fictional tales that use mindfulness- inspired techniques to help users sleep. However, the effects of the Calm app in employees among worksites has not yet been explored. The purpose of this study is to test the effects of using the Calm app + coaching concierge (one 20-min session) and/or Calm Coaching for sleep program on sleep, mental health, and work productivity outcomes in employees. Employees (N=5,000) will be randomized into one of two groups for 8-weeks. The research team will randomize the employee sites into one of two groups 1. Intervention group (N=2,500): Calm app + concierge (one live 20-minute coaching session) a. Calm Coaching for sleep Subsample (N=100): Participants with elevated sleep disturbance (determined as a score of \>10 with the ISI) AND interest in Calm Coaching for sleep will be assigned to the Calm Coaching for sleep Program in addition to having the Calm app + concierge 2. Waitlist control group (N=2,500): Following 8-weeks from the study start date, employee receives access to the Calm app a. Calm Coaching for sleep Subsample (N=100): Participants with elevated sleep disturbance (determined as a score of \>10 with the ISI) AND interest in Calm Coaching for sleep will be assigned to the Calm Coaching for sleep Program in addition to having the Calm app + concierge