5 most common reasons for long-term disability claims

The Top 5 Reasons Why People Go Out of Work and Stay Out of Work

At least 35 percent of working Americans don’t have private disability insurance. And what that means is approximately 50 million people won’t receive a paycheck if they leave work to have a baby, or are recovering from an injury or an illness. Working adults need disability (or income protection) insurance because people regularly leave work…

Man holding his back

6 Ways to Protect Your Lower Back From Injury

Back pain is one of the most widespread issues in modern American life. Experts estimate that eight out of ten Americans will experience back pain in their lives.  According to the Integrated Benefits Institute’s Health and Productivity Benchmarking 2016, musculoskeletal disorders (aka pain in the back and joints — especially the hips, knees and shoulders) account…

Woman holding her wrist.

The Impact of Chronic Pain in the Workplace

Chronic pain is affecting more and more Americans. A 2015 study by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health revealed that chronic or severe pain affects nearly 50 million American adults on a consistent basis. What impact does chronic pain have on the workforce, and how can your HR team better…

Tolerating Gluten Intolerance

At 18 months old, my son suddenly changed from the happiest little dude in town to a miserable and often inconsolable kid. Without warning, he became thoroughly unhappy, bouncing between periods of lethargy and periods of frustration. His sleep, which had been challenging anyway, as it is with most little ones, became a constant battle;…

The Cost of Cancer – Planning for Survival

No one plans to have cancer. Aside from the shock and anxiety for the future a diagnosis brings, cancer also presents a financial situation that few people fully consider. Huge medical bills, on top of the typical expenses like college loans, mortgages, and car payments, can leave survivors concerned about their finances. Despite this, there…

Depression and Your Office Environment: What You Need to Know

Depression, while often hiding in plain sight, ranks among the top three workplace problems for employee assistance professionals, resulting in 3% of total short-term disability days. For context, that’s more disability than what’s caused by heart disease, hypertension and diabetes—all in the form of an illness that isn’t nearly as visible as a broken bone.…

The Power of Magnesium

When it comes to supplements, making the right decisions about what to take can be easier said than done. Many make claims and promises that are dubious at best, often without the backing of science or peer-reviewed literature to support such statements. One supplement that has been studied time and time again, however, is magnesium—an…

Go Take A Hike – For Mental and Physical Health

If you’re in front of a computer or smart phone reading this, you’re clearly doing a poor job of celebrating National Take A Hike Day! Established by the American Hiking Society, Take a Hike day aims to encourage families, friends, and individuals to get away from their routines and experience nature while improving health. The…