Zurich Absence Management

Zurich North America launched a new program to help companies manage workplace absences due to injury or illness and ultimately improve productivity and operating efficiency. The program, known as Zurich Absence Management, takes a comprehensive partnered approach to disability by developing a systematic return-to-work strategy before any injury or illness occurs.

The absence management program's risk improvement team works with companies to customize a program that meets individual needs -- from strategy planning to implementation to ongoing monitoring of program effectiveness. The absence management program emphasizes prevention through on-the-job-training and safety assessment. Post-injury, early medical intervention is linked closely with aggressive nurse case management to place injured employees in transitional or modified duties while providing vocational and physical rehabilitation when necessary. With this program, companies are able to measure loss performance data and identify problems. Most notably, this model can be used to manage all workplace absences, not just workers compensation.

Recent studies have shown that proactive return-to-work programs can reduce occupational and non-occupational disability costs by as much as 20 to 40 percent. Easing back to work through transitional duties provides a smooth transition for the injured or ill worker, co-workers and management staff. In addition, the employee's participation in the company's benefit and retirement programs is never disrupted. Zurich North America can also ensure that companies are partnered with the right medical providers and that they are active participants in the absence management program.

Zurich North America , 1400 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60196. Tel: 800-382-2150 ; Fax: 847-605-6767.