How We Recover From The Pandemic Depends On What The Virus Will Do

If anything, we have learned many lessons over the past year.  While we can continue to plan and prepare, the COVID-19 virus and its variants may have their own plans in the months ahead.  Recognizing the uncertainty associated with these conditions, Sedgwick began to visualize what the future might look like and reimagine the best way to handle claims.

First, we looked intently at how we could best provide claims handling services to our clients.  We considered programs that included such options as telemedicine, virtual meetings, and how to secure medical care for workers during a pandemic. We also identified what additional services we could offer to support the employees and business operations of our clients during this difficult time.

As we emerge from the shadows of the pandemic, three key areas that warrant our undivided attention include:

1. Employer reopening
Return to work is going to be a strategy that must be carefully managed amid the changing guidelines of the environment. To keep businesses running as efficiently and safely as possible as COVID restrictions ease, it is important to monitor and support the following three phases reopen, return and recover.

Reopen planning includes pre-opening site inspection services; industrial hygiene and disinfection; facility safety and cleaning, ergonomic evaluations; workplace social distancing; and preparedness assessment services.

Return planning includes fit-for-work programs; clinical consultation; and healthy return-to-work solutions.  Workplaces should consider social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures, and alternative shifts where appropriate to ensure alignment with CDC guidelines and mitigation of risk.

Another area to monitor is the increasing PACS (Post-Acute COVID Syndrome) or ‘long haulers’ symptoms that some colleagues may experience. As a result, some employers will find it helpful to institute mental health programs and support for their workforce specific to these emerging concerns.

Recover planning includes vaccination tracking, unemployment claims management, and absence management solutions

2. Remote work arrangements

When the global pandemic was declared, many organizations made substantial changes regarding working conditions and leave policies such as work from home flexibility, additional paid leave benefits, and increasing duration of leave.

Now as businesses reopen, many wonder what to expect in moving forward. Some are exploring keeping working conditions as is whereas others are looking at reverting to pre-pandemic programs and still others are looking at a hybrid program. Regardless of the approach selected, communication is essential to make sure employees are informed.

Also, considering reasonable accommodations for those who do not want to return to the office will be important. If the plan is for employees to work remote permanently, there should be considerations for ergonomic evaluations and new job analyses along with universal design practices and enhanced safety considerations.

3. Legislation
Continuing to monitor and manage legislative changes is necessary. Fifty states mean there are fifty different sets of rules and regulations to navigate. The question becomes whether guidelines will stay in place, disappear, be revamped, or expanded. Employers need to be vigilant and remain current on the ever-changing legislation environment. What we know now is going to look very different in the coming months.

Sedgwick regularly monitors and reports on disability, leave and workers' compensation legislation impacting our customers. To review legislation impacting your business, visit sedgwick.com/coronavirus for information updates.

While we don’t know what will happen with the virus, we can be confident in our ability to pivot quickly and respond to our clients’ needs. As we continue to look ahead, we will share what we have learned and encourage employers to be flexible with planning as together we move forward in the months ahead.

By Scotty L. Benton 

Scotty Benton, ARM AIC, Vice president workers’ compensation practice, is responsible for supporting Sedgwick’s WC operations by focusing on continued development of best practices, ensuring administration of claims in accordance with best practices and in full compliance with legal, regulatory and jurisdictional requirements as well as driving quality initiatives. He plays a pivotal role in helping Sedgwick meet and exceed quality standards and deliver optimal claims outcome

Scotty has more than 30 years of industry experience.  He has worked for insurance carriers and third party administrators. He started his tenure in the industry as a Claims Examiner and progressed through roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President.  He has operational know-how and regulatory and compliance expertise across multi-state jurisdictions and particularly in-depth knowledge of the California workers’ compensation system.

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