When discussing absence management, it’s important to understand the many nuances relating to these initiatives. Let’s review some definitions which can apply to this growing field:

Disability Programs: Disability programs are narrower in scope than absence management and utilize processes to reduce the cost impact of disability, and provide methodologies to promote optimal recovery and return to work.

Health and Productivity Management: This can be defined as the integration of management, data, and services relating to all aspects of employee health that affect attendance and work performance, and is the broadest umbrella for such programs.

Behavioral Risk Integration: Many employers now utilize behavioral risk management as part of their absence management program to address underlying psychosocial issues that complicate claims or encourage absence. Behavioral health management is considered an integrated, interdisciplinary system of care that approaches individuals, families and communities as a whole and addresses the interactions between psychological, biological, sociocultural and environmental factors.

Workplace Wellness Programs: Workplace wellness can be defined as an organizational program designed to support improved health for all employees. It can include activities like health education, medical screenings, health fairs, weight management, health coaching, newsletters, on-site fitness centers and other wellness oriented educational programs.