Reassessing how you manage leave? Unique options now available
Substantial changes are happening in the leave and disability management marketplace. An influx of innovative management tools, new vendors, and technology solutions have ushered in a wide array of choices to help employers manage leave programs and improve employees’ experiences while on leave.
One of the most impactful ways an employer can show their employees how much they value and support them is through their paid and unpaid leave policies, including vacation, parental, or personal leaves. A well-designed, flexible leave program is also an important way to attract new talent. Many employers are making significant financial investments to build holistic leave programs to help employees navigate the often-confusing leave process and enhancing their programs with support tools that can help address the typical stressors employees face when taking leave.
Emerging leave and disability management solutions generally fit into three categories: digital and online platforms; employee leave planning and support; and full-service outsourcing.
Digital solutions and online platforms
Although outsourcing continues to be the primary leave management strategy for employers— over 50% of employer respondents outsource family and medical leave—some companies are bringing it back in house. To successfully manage leave in house, employers need tools that can support leave activities and changing leave laws. Without database-driven tools, leave management work can become unwieldly.
The new Software as a Service (SaaS) vendors in the marketplace are a game-changer for in-house management. Customizable digital platforms streamline how leave is requested, approved, managed, and closed upon return-to-work. User-friendly portals and dashboards make it easy for employees and managers to monitor leave status.
These systems offer a consolidated way to manage leaves based on the employer’s needs. The digital platforms have various modules to help employers comply with local, state, and federal leave laws and coordinate with disability and workers compensation benefits. These tools can integrate files feeds from disability vendors or use API protocols to exchange data with payroll and timekeeping systems.
Employee leave planning and support
When planning for or taking a leave, employees must navigate the various leave options available. Several vendors offer add-on solutions to enhance – not replace – the employer’s existing leave management process. Based on the employer’s leave programs, these tools are customized to guide the employee through leave planning and to offer ongoing support. Employees can use the tools to learn what leaves are available, assess how much time they can take from work, and how much pay will be provided during their leave. The tools also provide the employee with access to the employer’s benefits that will support their leave. For example, if the organization has childcare services, employees can easily access information about these services when planning for or applying for a parental leave.
Traditional, full-service outsourcing
Full-service solutions are designed for employers who do not want the administrative and compliance burden of managing leave. The emerging entrants blend technology solutions into their programs, using online portals to submit a leave and view real-time leave balances. Many have apps or text messaging that enable more efficient leave processing. Additionally, the new entrants take a “concierge approach” to managing leaves and can help the employee with submitting their leave, obtaining paperwork, and coordinating with the various state entities to file claims and obtain status updates.
Are you ready for change?
The wide array of leave management solutions in the marketplace makes it easier than ever to configure and streamline your leave process to benefit both the employer and the employee. There are multiple vendors and solutions from which to choose, each offering varying levels of capabilities, integration, competitive pricing structures and fees. Finding the right leave management strategy is a bit less daunting thanks to the emergence of these new choices and options.