In last month’s blog post, I wrote about how the non-occupational disabilities covered under salary continuation or disability insurance plans are more common than the occupational disabilities covered under workers’ compensation. I suggested that your benefits team should be as focused on managing the costs of non-occ disabilities as your risk management team is on…
People get sick. And it can happen at the most inopportune times, often delaying projects and timelines to the point where catching-up can be a project in and of itself. While the average person that has been at their job between five and 10 years takes about eight sick days each year, it’s not always clear…
Today’s companies and organizations demand more from employees than ever in the past. With Americans working as many as 499 additional hours each year than those in other developed countries, the need for a healthy & productive work environment is increasingly important. Workplace ergonomics can have a huge influence on overall health and can even…
Does your company have a comprehensive “Family Caregiver Leave” policy in place? If not, it might be time to start thinking about one. 44 million family caregivers currently reside in the U.S. providing care for ill and disabled loved ones – tasks may include everything from transportation to doctor’s appointments to providing more skilled nursing…
Since the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) passed in 1993, employers have struggled to meet its regulatory obligations. Although it’s been nearly 25 years – the challenges employers are dealing with haven’t gotten any easier. Leave requests can be very complex – and can distract employers from the underlying compliance requirements. These three key…
For many of us, finding the time to workout can be as challenging as actually working out. Maybe your life outside of work is consumed with kid schedules or other responsibilities. Or maybe your job requires long hours, which leaves little energy to exercise once you’re off the clock. So how do you stay…
The concern over losing employees is something that keeps many HR managers and CEOs up throughout the night, and for good reason. Replacing even a $10/hr employee can cost over $3,000, and the expense of finding someone to take over a high-level position can be $8,000 or more. Even if you treat your employees like…
I’ve held a variety of jobs during my post-college career. One of the more interesting ones was when I was a safety and environment consultant in the risk management department of a large insurance company. Our focus was on controlling the costs of our workers’ compensation program. Our WC costs weren’t as high as those…
Looking to transform your sedentary lifestyle to a healthy and active one? For people who spend most of their waking hours sitting at a desk each work day, regular exercise and healthy eating pose even more of a challenge. Check out these 11 clever ways to boost activity levels, eat healthier, and burn calories at…
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 34% of the American workforce feel engaged in the workplace. The Engagement Institute estimates that disengaged employees can cost organizations between $450 and $550 billion every year. Fortunately, improving employee engagement doesn’t have to be an overwhelming challenge. Here are three essential tips to get you started, each…
