Disability

As employees put off retirement, the ranks of those suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease will likely grow. Yet most HR leaders have failed to prepare their organizations for this eventuality.

A new report that compares the use of pain medications among injured workers in 17 large states points to the wide variations in the use of narcotics -- and coincides with one state's new rules that may help solve some of the growing concerns about opioid use in the workers' comp system.

This accompanies Back to Work.

This article accompanies Back to Work.

In the cash-strapped world of public-sector workers' comp claims processing and return-to-work procedures, adding technology can provide plenty of return on investment.

This article accompanies Back to Work.

This accompanies Back to Work.

This accompanies Back to Work.

According to a recent survey, two-thirds of respondents do not have any formal, non-occupational return-to-work program, but some companies are finding they can reduce costs and employee turnover by linking RTW programs with short-term disability programs.

Employers that combine end-to-end disability management with absence management can reduce costs, boost productivity, and fortify employee trust and engagement.

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Bird flu is making a comeback -- in a big way.

The recent settlement by Starbucks Coffee Co. for unlawfully firing a Texas woman with dwarfism brings up the importance of not just failing to reasonably accommodate a disabled individual but to ensure that such decisions are appropriate within the company's culture.

Job-rotation practices have come into vogue recently as employers seek to not only reduce repetitive injury costs, but also enrich the work experience and increase productivity. While generally favorable experiences have been reported, employers should understand certain pitfalls to guard against before undertaking any such program.

Insomnia is creating expense and danger for employees and employers alike, and it's up to HR leaders to train their own staffs, as well as all managers, on ways to deal with it. Communicating information on EAPs, providing some quiet areas for power naps and offering suggestions on ways to de-stress and relax at home are some options.

HR leaders may want to consider not just narrow legal issues when determining whether to reasonably accommodate a disabled individual, but how their ultimate decision will impact the company's culture. That was one of the lessons following the firing of a woman with dwarfism.

Flexible-work arrangements for disabled workers offer employers plenty of benefits, including ways to update and improve their disability-management and return-to-work programs.

Employment attorneys look at some of the current -- and potential -- federal laws that have affected HR leaders and their organizations.

This article accompanies What's Keeping You Up Now?

Regardless of whether a state allows undocumented workers to recover benefits, there are subtle issues that impact employers' exposure to workers' comp claims, such as light duty return-to-work.

Employers may want to take a close look at a new report on the use of pain medications by injured workers. The lack of consistency among states reveals the knowledge gap in treating patients with chronic pain.