Dan Jolivet described the importance of return-to-work programs for employees with behavioral health and substance abuse disorders in his first post along with two key elements associated with program success: a holistic approach and the services of a return-to-work consultant. In Jolivet’s second post, we consider the importance of stay-at-work services and program metrics. …
Read MorePrior to the pandemic, the United States saw a decades-long epidemic of “diseases of despair” with increasing rates of depression, suicide, addiction and overdose deaths. Mental health and substance use issues—and the economic and human costs of those conditions—were a focus for employers. Then came the pandemic. Rates of anxiety and depression tripled and remain…
Read MoreBy Cammie McAda, Vocational Rehab Employer Services Leader, Guardian With the quick onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses transformed the way they work almost overnight. With so many offices shifting their working arrangements unexpectedly, the majority of employees were not set up with a traditional home workspace. While working with an ad hoc setup…
Read MoreBy Tracey Ferstler, PhD, Head of Return to Health, Global Claims, MetLife COVID turned the world as we know it upside down, and people who work in and around absence management and disability insurance are looking for answers on what’s next. Will we return to normal or is this our new normal? What is unique…
Read MoreWhen the summer heat begins to give way to lower temperatures and the days get shorter and shorter, the onset of fall tends to make itself known seemingly overnight. It can be an exciting time of year; finishing summer vacations, getting back to school, preparing for winter. But for many people, it also signals the…
Read MoreFor most people, October means pumpkin spice lattes and candy. But for HR people, it means “open enrollment” season. As you put together your educational information to introduce your team to their different options, one you might pay particular attention to is the use of high-deductible health plans (HDHP), specifically the ability to pair them with…
Read MoreWhen we say “Hello, autumn,” we often are also saying “Hello, germs.” Whether it’s the change in the weather or the many (many!) germs your kids bring home if you have school-aged children, this is when we tend to get the first cold or flu bug of the season. The problem is that most of…
Read MoreYou’ve seen them. The most recognizable are minivans that have been converted for wheelchair users. But there’s more to mobility cars than easy access. A mobility car is designed to help people with a wide range of disabilities drive around to where they want to go, like the office, the doctor, shopping mall, friends’ houses,…
Read MoreAs Labor Day fades from view, most HR teams typically breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy a respite from juggling vacation requests and staffing. But, just as everything about 2020 has been different, this year summer didn’t automatically mean “vacation.” In fact, a vast majority of your team might have forgone any days…
Read MoreMany of us relish the summer’s bounty of produce—from juicy berries to succulent tomatoes. But as prime produce season winds down you might be wondering what’s next. Don’t worry! Fall has more to offer than just gorgeous leaves. Here are a few seasonal produce faves and the health benefits they offer. Super Fall Produce 1: Pumpkin…
Read MoreHappy New Year! Wait…aren’t we a little early (or a lot late) for that greeting? The truth is that for many people, September is the “real” new year, despite what the calendar says. And it’s easy to see why—after all that was traditionally the time we came back to school in a new outfit, maybe…
Read MoreWhen we think of back-to-school anxiety, it typically centers on elements like new routines, hectic schedules and whether our kids will find a friend. But those worries sound almost quaint, as we consider “back to school 2020.” In fact, just over 70% of parents said they saw either a large or moderate risk in sending…
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