Wintertime Means More Disability Claims Related To Depression And Respiratory Illnesses

Asheville, NC (CompNewsNetwork) - A new study by The Hartford analyzed more than one million short-term disability claims over the past five years and found that disabling illnesses and accidents peak after the winter holidays and are related to depression, respiratory illnesses and injuries.

Overall, accident-related disability claims peak in the summertime.  However, there’s another secondary spike in January of accident-related claims for workers in the Northeast and Midwest where inclement weather comes into play.

Glenn Shapiro, vice president for claims in the company’s group benefits division suggests:
• Don’t let stress drain employees' productivity. Encourage workers to stay active even during this frigid time of year and to make use of an employee assistance program (EAP), if available.
• Avoid confusion about absences. Ensure that your team is familiar with key company policies on topics such as storm closings and telecommuting.

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Preston Diamond is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Institute of WorkComp Professionals, based in Asheville, NC. It trains, tests and certifies select insurance professionals to alert employers about the hidden costs and overcharges in the Workers' Compensation insurance system. He can be contacted at 828-274-0959 or preston@workcompprofessionals.com, www.workcompprofessionals.com.