The impact of supervisor communication on limiting the time an employee misses from work after an injury or illness -- reported in a recent study by the Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety -- sparked a new training program that helps benefit and risk managers lower disability claims.
In the study, supervisors who were trained on effective communication and problem solving were more comfortable addressing work injury and disability issues. As a result, the people they manage had fewer workers compensation claims involving time away from work. Significantly fewer -- one company cut workers compensation claims 20 percent by teaching supervisors to take the lead and be supportive when dealing with employees.
"The study´s findings apply directly to disability," notes Jean Scarrow, who heads Liberty Mutual´s group disability area. "Whether someone is hurt on the assembly line or at home, good communication addresses issues that might cause an employee to miss work and helps them return quickly."
And communications is at the heart of the half-day training program available to Liberty Mutual group disability clients. Taking a "train-the-trainer" approach, Liberty Mutual experts walk the client´s human resource managers through the program. Later, these managers meet with supervisors to review the company´s disability program and give them the tools and skills needed to effectively communicate with employees at any point in the disability cycle, for example:
"Reducing disability claims is critical to managing the cost of employee absence," says Ms. Scarrow. "Our new training program was so successful in pilot tests because it let supervisors take an active role in the disability management process, helping them talk more effectively with employees while respecting medical privacy."
A training program to help supervisors better manage workers compensation claims is under development. Beyond reviewing the importance of communication, the Liberty Mutual program will help supervisors understand musculoskeletal injuries - a key cause of workers compensation claims - and how to design and modify jobs to better fit employees, helping to prevent such injuries.
About Liberty Mutual Group (LMG)
Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group (LMG) is a leading global insurer and sixth largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. whose largest line of business is personal auto based on 2003 direct written premium. As of December 31, 2003, LMG had $64.4 billion in consolidated assets and $16.6 billion in annual consolidated revenue and ranked 116th on the Fortune 500 list of largest corporations in the United States for 2003.
In 2001 and 2002 LMG reorganized into a mutual holding company structure. The three principal mutual companies of the group, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Employers Insurance Company of Wausau, each became separate stock insurance companies under the ownership of Liberty Mutual Holding Company, Inc. This structure provides LMG with better capital market access and greater strategic flexibility to pursue acquisitions and alliances, while aligning its legal structure with its operating structure and preserving mutuality.
LMG offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, workers compensation, commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, general liability, global specialty, group disability, assumed reinsurance, fire and surety. Group disability products and services are offered by Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston.
LMG employs nearly 38,000 people in nearly 900 offices throughout the world.