SuperFriend releases Stay at and Return to Work guidance
SuperFriend has released a guide to assist life insurers in delivering best practice Stay at Work and Return to Work support for employers and employees.
Action Area 7: Engaging Employers in Stay at Work/Return to Work focused on several key practice areas that, based on research, evidence and case studies, improve employer engagement in helping employees return to and stay at work. These were:
- Building capability and understanding in claims management staff;
- Having a coordinated approach to Stay at Work within insurers’ internal operations;
- Having better engagement with small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs);
- Providing support regardless of the cause of injury or illness;
- Improving communication with the claimant and all relevant stakeholders.
Margo Lydon, SuperFriend chief executive said that the release of the guide followed a growing trend in insurance for increased activities that focus on early intervention, pre-claim support and improved psychological claims support.
She said that this was because life insurers want to assist customers in minimising the impacts of illness, minimising long term absence from work and helping claimants get back to work more quickly.
Lydon pointed to the need to engage with SMEs, who represent the majority of employers in Australia, as especially important.
“SMEs typically have limited knowledge of the Stay at Work and Return to Work support available outside workers’ compensation claims, so there is a tremendous opportunity for life insurers t better engage and support these employers,” she said.
Action Area 7 would be available on SuperFriend’s website.
AUTHOR
Hannah Wootton
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