Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm founded in 1965. The organization has grown to 4,000 employees at 140 offices nationwide, providing services to all 50 states.
The firm was seeing a high rate of short-term disability insurance claims across its locations, and its direct supervisors had little experience managing short-term disability.
This knowledge gap included stay-at-work and return-to-work support. Employee safety is a core value for Terracon. So the firm needed a robust disability program that matched its commitment to employee well-being.
How could Terracon start a disability management program that would:
The first step was talking with Standard Insurance company (The Standard)* about its Workplace Possibilities℠ program.
* Terracon's partnership is with Standard Insurance Company of Portland, Oregon, which is licensed in all states except New York.
The safety and well-being of our employees — both on and off the job — is our No. 1 priority. By working with The Standard, we have extended that philosophy to encompass employees on leave or returning to work.
Karen Butts, Employee Benefits Manager, Terracon
Workplace Possibilities℠, is an innovative program that helps people stay at work or return to work sooner. The key is its unique, proactive approach which addresses and reduces the causes of disability.
Workplace Possibilities adjusted to Terracon’s culture and complemented its existing safety program. The Workplace Possibilities team worked with supervisors and employees directly. The one-to-one contact allowed them to focus on health problems as they came up — and this was where the program excelled. It addressed the HR team’s desire to provide one-to-one support for direct supervisors in assessing and addressing each employee’s needs for returning to work or staying at work.
The HR team wanted personal support for direct supervisors in gauging and addressing each employee’s needs. Before offering a fix, Workplace Possibilities consultants made sure they understood Terracon’s beliefs and values. They also analyzed the firm’s disability management structure. Then the team delivered a solution that fit.
Workplace Possibilities helped Terracon’s HR professionals manage accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act. Workplace Possibilities consultants assisted in:
Access to this information lets the Workplace Possibilities team evaluate an employee’s illness or injury individually. This makes it easier to identify and set up the right accommodations.
1 The Standard provides administrative, informational and referral services and a client should not rely on WPP to ensure its compliance with ADAAA requirements.
Our unique program was the key factor in helping Terracon reduce the duration of its short-term disability claims.
Workplace Possibilities is a structured program that's easy to use. But we can also tailor it to fit a company’s needs. Terracon is a perfect example of how a customized approach can make all the difference.
Jeff Smith, Workplace Possibilities Practice Consultant, The Standard
Partnering with a broker and an enrollment firm, we worked with Phoebe Putney Health System to realize its vision for benefits built on employee wellness.
Absence Management Services make it easy to track employee leaves like Short Term Disability or Family Medical Leave. We offer expert help to stay in compliance with all state and federal regulations.
Let’s talk about how we can tailor a solution for your benefits.
The Standard is a marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc. and subsidiaries. Insurance products are offered by Standard Insurance Company of Portland, Oregon in all states except New York. Product features and availability vary by state and are solely the responsibility of Standard Insurance Company.
