Family looking off into a bright sunset

Benefit Strategies that Protect Employee Income, Drive Enrollment, and Assist Recruitment and Retention

Ernest Dube Director, Enrollment & Account Management Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® Editor’s Note: Employers can help employees better prepare for their future and help close potential income gaps caused by longer-term workplace absences by providing supplemental income protection. This benefit provides additional coverage benefits from a protection perspective and also enhances employee recruitment…

group of diverse professional workers over a city background

From The CDA Research Files: The Impact of Remote Work on Absence Rates

Editor’s Note: In this latest installment of The CDA’s ongoing research series, Fred Schott, director of operations and research, provides a summary of findings from the Current Population Survey on the connections among occupations, availability of remote work, and absence.  These findings were presented during September 2021, to the National Association of Supplemental Benefit Insurance 2021…

How to offer a supportive, productive environment during an employee's absence

How To Offer a Supportive, Productive Environment During an Employee’s Absence from Work

By Christina Bridges Editor’s Note: Absence and disability – including a short-term disability – often create uncertainty for both the employer and the employee. Employees are contending with health, wellness, and income concerns; and employers are looking to ensure a smooth return to work, as well as a seamless tracking of the leave. It can…

Labor Market Signals U.S. Employers To Embrace Hiring People with Disabilities

Labor Market Signals U.S. Employers To Embrace Hiring People with Disabilities

By LeighAnn Jarry Editor’s Note: Employers seeking to expand their workforce are encountering challenges due to the tight labor market. Despite offering generous benefits and higher compensation, it is difficult to find employees. But there is a virtually untapped pool of applicants – people with disabilities. Now is exactly the right time for employers to…

Building a Resilient Workforce During Periods of Adversity

Building a Resilient Workforce During Periods of Adversity

By 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…

Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder

Is Autumn Making You S.A.D.? Managing Seasonal Affective Disorder

For many, the first day of autumn kicks off a season of apple picking, foliage tours, and evenings by the fire pit. But for others, it signals the beginning of a months-long struggle with depression, brought about by a significant reduction in sunlight. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) is a form…

Everything To Know About Employer-Offered Life Insurance Going into Open Enrollment

Everything To Know About Employer-Offered Life Insurance Going into Open Enrollment

By Juliane Kowalski, Senior Vice President, Group Benefits, MetLife Editor’s note: Life insurance is not only a way to pay for funeral expenses. It can cover major expenses such as housing, childcare, and college tuition as well as everyday ones like groceries, transportation, and credit card bills.   If we’ve learned anything from the past…

Protecting Those With Disabilities Against COVID-19 Variants

How We Can Protect Those With Disabilities Against COVID-19 Variants

As much as all of us just want the pandemic to go away, the COVID-19 variants have added more complications to consider. Among these are the ways we can go about keeping individuals with disabilities and vulnerabilities safe as the variants spread.   At this point, over half of Americans have been vaccinated, but unfortunately,…

Personal story - I have OCD

I Have OCD

By Dan Jolivet Editor’s Note: Dan Jolivet’s very personal story about his experience with being a person with obsessive-compulsive disorder captured our collective attention immediately. This is a story everyone should read. Dan is honest and vulnerable, and you will gain perspective from Dan’s observations. [Note: The author’s representations here solely reflect his personal opinion…