Employers should look for innovative accommodations that assist individuals with disabilities

With October being National Disability Employment Awareness Month, employers and employees are reflecting on the employment needs and contributions of individuals with various disabilities. "It's also a good time to evaluate what employers are doing to integrate disability accommodations and other absence management programs that manage the impact of employee time away from work and help employees with disabilities be most productive," says Jim Gemus, senior vice president, product, Prudential Group Insurance.


Great progress has been made over the years in terms of ensuring the workplace is an accessible and comfortable environment that allows people with various disabilities to be productively employed, notes Gemus. "This should be a constantly evolving process where innovative accommodations that assist individuals with disabilities are introduced often," he says. "When employees experience a disabling event on the job, employers play a supportive role in bringing them back to work when they are ready."

Recent Prudential lnsurance Company of America research conducted in conjunction with Greenwald & Associates found that employers have made progress implementing these programs but also realize there is more work to be done.

According to the 2013 research, when asked to grade their organization's return-to-work programs, one-third of employers gave themselves a "C." When asked to do the same with their absence management programs (the combination of disability and attendance leave programs) most employers gave themselves a "D." It is important to note that in both cases, grades improve with employer size.

"It is clear that employers increasingly value the role these programs play in maintaining a robust and productive workforce," says Gemus. "As we recognize the importance of keeping people with disabilities employed during this month, it is also important to take stock of what employers are doing to foster an accommodating environment when individuals are ready to return to the workplace."

Want more information or to speak to Jim? Email Sheila Bridgeforth.

Group Insurance coverages are issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, 751 Broad Street, Newark NJ 07102

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