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Prudential believes managers have more control over absences than they realize

^{Published on 2010-08-26 13:20:39 - Market Wire}
 

NEWARK, N.J.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Kimberly Mashburn, vice president of Strategic Partnerships for Prudentiala™s Group Insurance business, a unit of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU) discussed the critical role of managers and effective return to work strategies at the annual Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) conference, August 1- 4, 2010 in San Diego, Calif.

"Some disability absences are driven by subjective feelings about work, so managers should make sure they are building an environment that breeds commitment"

Workplace absence can be very expensive. Costs and consequences of absence can include direct costs like disability premiums, benefits paid to disabled employees, continuing employee benefits, and wages to replacement workers. Also, indirect costs like reduced productivity, increased overtime, increased supervisory time, increased stress & pressure, recruitment and training of replacement workers, increased medical costs, and administrative cost all add up. While many disability absences are out of a managera™s control, some may not be.

aSome disability absences are driven by subjective feelings about work, so managers should make sure they are building an environment that breeds commitment,a said Mashburn. During her August 1 workshop, she provided the following actionable steps that managers can take to enhance prompt return to work and boost productivity:

• Create a positive work environment that employees want to come back to;
• Prepare for planned absences by discussing how to cover the work with the employee going on leave;
• Keep personal and professional connections when employees are out of work;
• Plan for the return to work using all the options available at your company; and
• Monitor the return to work to help ensure additional absence is mitigated.

aNew laws, escalating costs, fewer employees, and health and productivity issues are the challenges of the post-recession economy,a said Joe Wozniak, Certified Professional in Disability Management and Chief Financial Officer of DMEC. aThis yeara™s conference allowed attendees to learn best practices and proven solutions that help employers return workers to productive employment from peers and thought leaders like Prudential.a

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudentiala™s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. In the U.S., Prudentiala™s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit [ http://www.news.prudential.com/ ]

Long Term Disability insurance is issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark, NJ.

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide.

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