In the last couple of years, employers and organizations have
seen their costs associated with employee absenteeism
skyrocket. Absenteeism in the workplace can take many forms,
ranging from intermittent absences, employees off for minor
illnesses or injury or lengthy absences. The million dollar
question for employers is how it should go about containing and
managing such costs, particularly in an economic climate of
financial restraint. To avoid increasing costs, more
employers and organizations have begun to implement disability
management programs and processes.
An effective disability management program is a process that is
specifically designed to facilitate the employment of persons with
a disability or injury through a coordinated effort involving
several stakeholders, including human resources, management and the
employee with a disability or injury. Some of the common
steps that are recommended by the Conference Board of Canada in its
October 2013 paper,
