Originally published by United Benefit Advisors
Learn the Benefits of an Advocacy-Based Approach to Absence Management
[INDIANAPOLIS, IN.], June 20, 2013 – Employee absences can be a significant cost of payroll. Many employers are concerned that this cost percentage will increase as the “sandwich generation” continues to bear the burden of caring for both aging parents and adult children. How employers and insurers handle disability income insurance claims management can either provide workers a road block, or a road back, to a productive work life.
United Benefit Advisors (UBA), in conjunction with Symetra Life Insurance Company, is hosting a free webinar, “An Advocacy-Based Approach to Absence Management” for HR professionals and business owners on June 27 at 2 pm, ET. To register, click here.
“The majority of disabilities are caused by illness rather than an accident,” says Tom Foran, vice president, Group Life & Disability Income Insurance for Symetra. “With the right kind of support, employees can get back to work faster, but that requires understanding the entire scope of the employee’s leave and helping them overcome obstacles that may prevent them from returning to work. This practice is a win/win for the employee and the employer.”
Participants in this webinar will learn about the absence effect, conditions that drive disability claims, and how an advocacy-based approach to claims management can get employees engaged in their recovery and encourage a faster return to work.
Foran will discuss components critical to this type of strategy including a well-designed disability plan, helpful work/life programs and services, and FMLA/absence compliance assistance.
“A traditional disability management approach often can become adversarial and lead to higher medical costs,” says Thom Mangan, CEO of United Benefit Advisors. “We find, and statistics show, that an advocacy-based approach not only helps support employees through a difficult time, but also further develops an employer/employee relationship that builds trust and long-term productivity.”
About Tom Foran
Vice President, Group Life & Disability Income Insurance
Symetra Life Insurance Company
Tom Foran has built the leadership team and set the strategic direction for Symetra’s expanding group life and disability business. Foran previously served as director of Product and Business Development in WellPoint’s life and disability division. At WellPoint, he led the innovation of new products, underwriting methodologies and web-based sales tools. He also developed the life and disability market strategy and action plans for key medical markets. Before WellPoint, Foran was vice president of Underwriting at Integrated Disability Resources, Inc., and regional director of Large Group Underwriting and Policy Administration Services at Hartford Life
Insurance Company. During this time, he also was named one of Careers and the Disabled employees of the year. Foran is a five-time U.S. Paralympic medalist and former 5,000-meter world-record holder in wheelchair racing. He has spent more than 25 years volunteering as an advocate for people with disabilities, including 10 years serving the Connecticut Governor’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
About Symetra Life Insurance Company
Symetra Life Insurance Company is a subsidiary of Symetra Financial Corporation (NYSE: SYA), a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Wash. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information about Symetra, visit www.symetra.com.
About United Benefit Advisors
United Benefit Advisors® (UBA) is the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory organization with more than 200 Partner offices in 46 states, Canada and the United Kingdom. Learn more at www.UBAbenefits.com
United Benefit Advisors is not affiliated with any of the subsidiaries under Symetra Financial Corporation.
