2022 Health & Wellness Issue

Healthcare and Wellness

November/December 2022

Integrated absence management professionals are embracing their role in enhancing employee health and wellness in ways that influence disability claims, absences, and return to work. This issue of @Work delves into the return-on-investment component to healthcare and wellness efforts and the practical realities of implementation that have a powerful effect on organizational recruitment and retention efforts, employee morale, productivity, profitability, and more.

The CEO’s Desk

Doing Good = Doing Well: Investing in Employee Health and Wellness

Investments in employee healthcare and wellness can have major budget implications and influence the work of integrated absence management professionals in myriad ways — from return-to-work time frames to short- and long-term disability costs, the duration of family and medical leaves, and more. Read more.

Features

Powerful Returns Prompt Employers to Rethink Benefit Offerings

Before the pandemic, many Americans were ill-prepared for unexpected emergencies, which has been exacerbated by the recent rise in inflation. As a result, more employees are forced to tap into their savings and 401(k) plans to make ends meet. A few ways that employers can help employees get back on track financially is by offering payroll-deducted savings programs, developing emergency funds with an employer match, and offering emergency savings options. Read more.

Navigating the Complex Web of Pregnancy and Parental Leave Laws and Programs

Employers and employees face a daunting task when it comes to planning for leave related to pregnancy, childbirth, and bonding with a new child. Many disability laws and policies may apply that provide paid leave, unpaid leave, and/or paid benefits for disability during pregnancy, disability to recover from childbirth, and/or bonding that vary by state and, in some cases, by city and county. Read more.

Spotlight Articles

Program Showcase

The Architecture of an Intentional Emotional Well-Being Strategy

There has been unprecedented demand for mental health support during the last several years, especially for healthcare employers with clinicians working long hours on the front lines. It is not enough for organizations to amass well-being benefits, such as employee assistance programs, telehealth, virtual behavioral health, and text coaching. They must also communicate intentionally with employees. Read more.

Employer Perspective

Supporting Employee Mental and Emotional Well-being

Creating a culture of well-being starts with establishing employee health as an organizational priority. Temple University Health System, Inc. has a commitment to meeting employees where they are with their well-being journeys (from mental to physical and financial health) and includes them in efforts to create effective well-being programs. Read more.

Expanded Perspectives:
@Work to Share

DMEC provides the following @Work magazine articles and podcast episodes to offer additional perspectives on and increase awareness of integrated absence management trends and challenges. The resources — available to members and nonmembers — can be shared with your colleagues and through social media channels.

Looking Forward as Disability Professionals

The work we do as human resources professionals and, specifically, absence and disability compliance practitioners, is hard and it’s getting harder, which makes it essential for teams to make their emotional and physical health a priority. Read more.

2022 Trends

Is DEIB A Litmus Test for Employers?

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts influence the success of every organization, and more employers realize they are interrelated. The value of creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments is not new, and the important addition of belonging — which ties the components together — is gaining ground fast. Read more.

DMEC Podcast

Creating Cultures of Inclusivity and Belonging

Get a better understanding of how the belonging component of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts sets the stage for greater long-term success during this quick-hit conversation with communications and equity expert Dr. Nancy Dome and DMEC CEO Terri L. Rhodes. Listen.

Industry Q&A

What’s Hot? What’s Not? Embrace a Different Mindset to Ensure Inclusive Environments

As employers redefine acceptable approaches to work, they can differentiate themselves in a competitive hiring market and ensure policies and practices align with mission, vision, and value statements. Debra Dupree, an absence management consultant and mediation specialist, offers guidance for employers grappling with unprecedented operational and human resource-related changes. Read more.

DMEC Podcast

Minding the Absence Management Knowledge Gap

While compliance questions continue to top the list for integrated absence management professionals, DMEC education experts discuss trends they’re seeing and what that says about an increasing knowledge gap that can put employers at risk. Listen.

Columns

Absence Matters

An Ounce of Prevention Can Win the Wellness Game

In the quest for employee wellness, prevention has become critical. Proactive and preventive healthcare can reduce illness and claims, as well as help employees stay at work, which is a win for everybody. Read more.

Integrated Absence Management

Could Adjusting Benefits Help You Retain Employees?

American employees have different priorities and expectations following the COVID-19 pandemic, which radically changed what they want and expect from workplaces. Understanding the new realities — especially when it comes to younger, more mobile generations — is key to successful recruitment and retention. Read more.

Engaging Today’s Workforce

How Employers Can Support Caregiving Employees Amid a Changing Workplace Landscape

Employers should consider customizing benefits and other resources that meet the evolving needs of caregiving employees. As more employees expect their employers to provide resources to balance their personal and professional lives, it will be increasingly important to offer generous packages that promote holistic health and financial wellness. Read more.

Employer Solutions

Fit for Duty: Training Can Help Employers Stay Ahead of Preventable Absences

Being proactive with your employees’ health and safety is essential to keep your workforce productive. Conditioning programs, ergonomics training, lessons in lifting, physical ability tests, and employee assistance programs can be effective prevention strategies to consider. Read more.

Common Sense Compliance

Supporting Employee Health and Wellness

Reviewing efforts to support health and wellness should be part of an employer’s leave management process. Promoting services; leveraging benefits; and refreshing education, training, and absence management policies help support employee needs and encourage them to stay healthy and well. It can also help employers avoid issues with compliance. Read more.

Featured Case

Managing Employees’ Obligations to Report and Communicate But Not “Work” While on FMLA Leave

When, how, and what employers can communicate to employees who are on Family and Medical Leave Act leave can be challenging questions to answer. Most employers know they cannot make employees work while out on leave, but how should “work” be defined? Read more.

Leave Technology

Automation Can Save Your Most Valuable Resources

Your organization might be manually tracking and managing requests for leave that fall under the FMLA and the ADA, or you could have complex processes that span multiple platforms and solutions. Consolidating and streamlining these processes can save time, improve compliance, and create a better experience for absence management professionals and employees. Read more.

The Disabled Workforce

Redefining Your Culture Can Lead to Happier Employees and Fewer Leave Requests

It’s helpful to differentiate the types of leave that employees can (and should take), to emphasize when it is appropriate and encouraged to take the time employees need to recharge and take care of themselves, and to let all employees know that the organization is tracking leave to ensure that all employees are supported. Read more.

DMEC RESOURCES

DMEC News

Check out the new resources DMEC has available for state leave law compliance in the Northeast, domestic violence leave laws, hiring process accommodations, and vendor review and selection. Read more.

Legislative Updates

Check out the latest federal, state, and local compliance updates on the DMEC Legislative Updates blog. Recent posts cover updates to leave and disability laws in California and Puerto Rico, the aftermath of the Dobbs decision, and more. Read more.

Be sure to follow DMEC on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for additional insight and up-to-date news.

Continue the Conversation

Share insights and ideas about the Healthcare and Wellness issue with other DMEC members in DMECommunities. DMEC’s online networking groups give you the opportunity to connect with industry peers, ask/answer questions, share resources, and seek feedback. Get started.