The Standard Identifies Presenteeism Solutions

Updated

The Standard Identifies Presenteeism Solutions

Productivity Insight series offers ways to curb employees' health-related lost productivity

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Although the phenomenon of presenteeism is a relatively new field of study, employers are well aware of the effects that employee health can have on their bottom line. A new Productivity Insight white paper from Standard Insurance Company ("The Standard"), entitled Productivity Insight #3: Understanding Presenteeism, addresses ways employers and their benefits advisers can improve workplace productivity by learning more about presenteeism — the decline in workplace productivity due to a medical condition — and how to address it.


"In this recovering economy, employers and their workforces are faced with the prospect of doing more with less, which is stretching employees to their limits," said Michael Klachefsky, national practice leader, Workplace Possibilities℠ for The Standard. "The result of this workplace pressure can be an employee at work with, or developing, a medical condition — either mental or physical — that causes a decline in productivity."

Unlike pharmaceutical and medical costs, presenteeism is very difficult to measure. Although benefits experts have focused primarily on methods of improving health as a solution to presenteeism, the health improvement approach is difficult because of the time it takes to create measurable progress.

To help employers counter the effects of presenteeism, The Standard has outlined five effective solutions in this white paper:

  1. Working with a disability carrier that provides on-site assistance to help employees with a personal, face-to-face approach.

  2. Ensuring the disability carrier provides quick and effective ergonomic interventions that can provide employees with equipment to improve their productivity.

  3. Improving employer pharmacy programs to reduce the effects of medical conditions that can contribute to lost productivity.

  4. Integrating a company's health management programs.

  5. Targeting high-risk as well as low- to medium-risk workers with health management programs such as wellness initiatives, employee assistance plans and disease management.

To download the Productivity Insight white paper and to learn more about The Standard's Workplace Possibilities program, visit the Resources page on The Standard's Workplace Possibilities site.

About the Workplace Possibilities program

The Workplace PossibilitiesSM program is a unique, proactive approach to helping employers prevent and manage employee absence and disability. A Workplace Possibilities on-site consultant helps to connect employees with their health management programs and identifies opportunities to keep at-risk employees on the job or return to work faster. By doing so, the program delivers rapid and measurable reductions in absence- and disability-related costs. For tips and tools HR professionals can use to help re-imagine the way they manage absence and disability, visit www.workplacepossibilities.com.

The Workplace Possibilities Program is available through The Standard's Group Disability Insurance. An on-site consultant is available for groups with 1,000 or more employees. This policy has exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or terminated.

About The Standard

The Standard is a leading provider of financial products and services, including group and individual disability insurance, group life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance, group dental and vision insurance, absence management services, retirement plans products and services, individual annuities and investment advice. For more information about The Standard, visit www.standard.com.

The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries: Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., StanCorp Mortgage Investors, Inc., StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., StanCorp Real Estate, LLC, and StanCorp Equities, Inc.

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The Standard
General Media
Bob Speltz, 971-321-3162
Director, Public Affairs
bob.speltz@standard.com
or
Investor Relations and Financial Media
Jeff Hallin, 971-321-6127
Assistant Vice President, Investor Relations
jeff.hallin@standard.com
or
Bader Rutter & Associates
Ashley Schaible, 262-938-5567
aschaible@bader-rutter.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America Oregon

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