“In 2000, US spent $83.1 billion for costs associated with depression & $63.1 billion on costs associated with anxiety disorders.”
Our audit and consulting services are designed to help identify the gaps in existing Disability Management & Accommodation (DM&A) process and policies to effectively manage non occupational absences due to medical illness or injury across all business units of your organization. The assessment can be as simple or as complex as required based on an employer's needs.
Auditing: Understanding Existing DM&A Policies and Practices
We work with you and assess existing documentation, practices and systems based on the following steps:
- We begin with reviewing your current attendance and sick leave policy to ensure it addresses non occupational absences and accommodation requests due to illness or injury
- Review your internal procedures in managing disability claims from onset to benefit end date
- Review your current STD benefit plan (i.e. ASO, Self Administered, EI), criteria for approval and expectations relative to medical compliance and return to work initiatives
- Benchmark the number of STD claims/duration and % of these claims that transition to LTD benefits
- Review current program offerings to employees and return to work practices in the early stages of disability leave
- Understand how due diligence is applied to accommodation issues when the issue of undue hardship arises
- Determine current practices when an STD claim transitions to LTD and existing gaps that may inadvertently cause hardship to both employer and employee
- Review the challenges of managing employees who seek a return to work with a medical note when they no longer qualify for LTD benefits
Consulting: Recommending Changes based on what we learned
Define the existing gaps and recommend solutions to facilitate improved management of non occupational absences across all business units work with HR and management to develop and implement tools to support the DM&A process and ensure consistency in its application
- Ensure communication protocols are adhered to from onset to conclusion of any given case
- Define the roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders involved in the DM&A process
- Help reduce costs relating to absenteeism and disability while at the same time increasing employee engagement, wellness and commitment to the organization
- Develop and define ongoing reporting and measurement indicators to help understand cost and productivity issues
Simply put... we plan and implement a step by step process from onset of reported illness, to the successful return to work and restoration of a productive and balanced workplace.
