Oregon and Colorado are the next two states developing paid family and medical leave (PFML) programs with private plan options. In this episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor, we explore where each state stands, what we know about their private plan processes, and what employers should consider when deciding whether to opt for a private plan. Lincoln leave professionals will also help employers who have chosen a private plan focus on what needs to be done now, what’s coming next, and what remains to be decided by each state.  Resources mentioned: Episode 46 - State vs. private plans: Conversa ..read more

Short-term disability isn’t a new benefit, but it is a valuable coverage both employees and employers need to understand to ensure they can take full advantage of its features. This Lincoln Absence Advisor podcast explores how STD is perceived, how it interacts with state PFML and company-sponsored leave, and how new trends may affect future STD program offerings.  Resources mentioned: Podcast episode 50: First point of contact, first point of support  © 2022 Lincoln National Corporation. All rights reserved.  LCN-4890164-080522 ..read more

When your company is building a paid leave policy, using the right policy language is crucial. In this Lincoln Absence Advisor podcast, we explore this topic with product manager Annie Jantz and absence consultant MacKenzie Carver. We take a detailed look at policy language – what to look for, where to find helpful input, and why it matters. This thoughtful conversation covers topics such as exclusions and inclusions, eligibility, creating clear definitions, coordination with state and federal policies, and resources that are available to help you build a policy that fulfills its intended purp ..read more

When you look at reasons people take leave from the workplace, do you consider eldercare and all the complexities this includes? In this episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor, Lincoln’s Joanne Archer, VP of product solutions, Michelle Curtis, product consultant for Lincoln’s life product, and Julie Frick, claims manager for group benefits, share their different experiences with eldercare. They focus on the many needs employees may be juggling when caring for an elder family member and how those needs can shift so quickly throughout the aging process. Their stories showcase not only day-to-day ne ..read more

During our Q2 webinar – A new focus: mental health, disability, and the whole employee we received a lot of great questions from our audience. One area where our audience showed interest was the benefit of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More specifically, how could an EAP help someone who may be experiencing mental health related issues when transitioning back into the office? During this episode, we tackle that question as well as explore all the other assistance areas an EAP can help with. Joining me for this conversation are David Campbell, Senior Vice President of Quality Control ..read more

During the latest Lincoln Absence Advisor webinar, A New Focus: Mental Health, Disability and the Whole Employee, we received many questions on which accommodations work best for mental health and how to handle such a sensitive subject with your employees. For episode 9 of this Lincoln Absence Advisor podcast, we hone in on these questions with product lead Annie Jantz, and vocational consultants Melissa Michuda and Emily Mathies. We discuss elements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), accommodations we’ve seen used for mental health needs, and various processes and perspectives that ..read more

Having a child can often be tied to joy and happiness, but there is another side that many new moms are going through – balancing their own mental health while they adjust to this new world they find themselves in. When we talk about maternal mental health, we often focus on postpartum depression, but it’s also important to consider the whole cycle of being a mom and the different effects this new role can have on mental health. In this episode of Lincoln Absence Advisor, we are joined by Lincoln’s consulting physicians, Dr. Amy Feitelson, a psychiatrist, and Dr. Jennifer King, a family pract ..read more

Recently we’ve seen a lot of interest in California paid family leave and the overall state disability insurance program, which is why we’ve put together this episode to answer frequent questions and simply talk through a state program that can sometimes be confusing to navigate. Listen in as Bill Mcshane, national sales advisor for the west coast, Kristin Hostetter, product lead for our CA private plan offering, and Alexa Greenberg, general counsel, answer questions on private plans and the basics of the program as well as give their thoughts on aspects employers should be especially aware o ..read more

Disability insurance is something that has catapulted to the forefront of many employers and their employees’ minds over the past year. Many see the value of this coverage for the peace of mind it provides if someone were to miss work due to a covered injury or illness. May is disability insurance awareness month, and what better way to kick us off than by talking to three HR employees who interact with disability insurance almost every day?  Joining me for this discussion are three of my colleagues from Lincoln Financial Group - Mindy Jarecki, Sr. Consultant – HR Business Management, Ke ..read more

We’re hearing a lot about returning to the workplace and questions on if employers can (or should) require the COVID-19 vaccination to do so. Often, this conversation leads to many challenges and complexities, such as the need for accommodations, support communication and resources, and state policies and laws.  So, after reviewing questions from our most recent webinar, two of our webinar speakers discuss this topic thoroughly. Join Trish Zuniga, lead for leave regulations and Annie Jantz, product lead from leave management services as they talk about vaccination policies, leave impacts ..read more