Stocking Up On Health & Wellness in the Workplace

Transcription

1 News and Information for IWIF Policyholders and Maryland Employers Stocking Up On Health & Wellness in the Workplace Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. Has an Award Winning Workplace Wellness Program Duella Clark, Safety Coordinator Amy Newman, Vice President, Human Resources Auriana Vila, Retail Associate In This Issue NEW Safety University Complying With Loss Control Recommendations 2011 Maryland Workers Comp Laws

2 Policyholder Success Story Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake Implements an Award Winning Workplace Wellness Program 2 When Marge Thomas, President of Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, created her organization s workplace wellness plan, she had no idea her efforts would earn her organization kudos as One of the Best Places to Work in Baltimore by the Baltimore Business Journal. Goodwill has also earned the American Heart Association s Fit Friendly gold and platinum awards three years in a row, and is proud to call itself a member of Healthiest Maryland, a statewide effort to raise awareness about the health of Maryland s workers. Why Start a Workplace Wellness Program? Goodwill s employee population posed certain challenges for the organization. Marge explains: We were having problems with high turnover, morale and productivity. We were also finding it difficult to recruit new employees. And, as with many employers these days, our biggest problem was that our insurance costs continued to escalate. So, Marge, along with Vice President of Human Resources Amy Newman and Chief Operations Officer Lisa Rusyniak, put their heads together. They ended up taking a holistic approach to the problem of rising health care costs and tackling a host of other problems in the process. They looked at such issues as employee engagement, career growth opportunities, the employee culture at Goodwill, and work/life balance. The latter area was the catalyst for the organization s new Workplace Wellness Program. Marge explains: We wanted to show our employees and trainees that we cared about them, because they were the ones who made Goodwill a success. Our vision was to truly become an employer of choice and to live up to our mission in service to our co-workers and clients. When we began in 2007, we were facing doubledigit health insurance increases, and we saw that poor health decisions were affecting our employees things like smoking, weight issues, and stress, explains Amy. We determined that we wanted to be a healthier workforce, because, according to all the research, that means less absenteeism and greater productivity. It also means happier employees. Components of the Goodwell Program Goodwill hired a consultant, WellAdvantage, to help develop and manage its workplace wellness program. Jeanne Sherwood, President of WellAdvantage, explains: Research shows that today s workforce spends over 60% of their waking hours in the office, workplace or commuting. For most people, their busy lifestyles offer little time for exercise, health education, and stress reduction. This is why the worksite has been proven to be one of the most effective settings for health promotion. Adds Jeanne: It is a pleasure working with a client who gets it. The management team is a big key to their success. They overcome obstacles with ingenuity and resolve, and have created a program that reaches every part of employees lives. Goodwell is much more than a traditional health and morale-building series. Goodwill has taken the program to a much higher level and received a significant return on investment, which is clear in their health risk trends. The Benefits of the Program One of the biggest benefits Goodwill has experienced as a result of its healthy workplace initiative is that its employee health insurance premiums remained flat from 2010 to Goodwill has truly earned every accolade they ve received for their commitment to their employees and for the success of their wellness program, says Pete Chesner, Principal with McQuade Consulting, LLC, Goodwill s benefits consultant. In terms of the quantifiable benefits of the program, in July of 2010, we negotiated an 18-month contract with their health insurance provider with no increase in premiums through the end of While it is difficult to attribute this success solely to their wellness program, no one can deny it is a significant contributing factor. continued page 4

3 The key point in building a wellness program is to understand that changes in health care costs follow changes in health risks. The fewer health risks an employee has, the healthier the employee is. This ultimately helps control overall healthcare costs. Amy Newman, Vice President, Human Resources, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake Above L-R: Lisa Rusyniak, Goodwill COO; Amy Newman, Vice President HR; Marge Thomas, President. Far left photo L-R: Pete Chesner, McQuade Consulting; Auriana Vila, Goodwill; Amy Newman, Goodwill. L-R: Char Harris, IWIF Claims Adjuster; Duella Clark, Goodwill Safety Coordinator; Roland Forster, Account Executive with Aon Risk Services. 3

4 Perhaps more important, when Goodwill looked at those employees who, as a result of engaging in the program, reduced their number of risk factors for metabolic syndrome including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and overweight/obesity issues the company realized it was saving in terms of medical costs due to this reduction in excess risk classifications. Our wellness program is an excellent investment in our employees, concludes Lisa Rusyniak. It boosts morale, productivity, and the health of our staff. It just makes good people and business sense. Adds Roland Forster, Account Executive with Aon Risk Services, Aon s foremost focus as Goodwill s insurance consultant and broker has been in finding the right fit with IWIF, a workers comp carrier having the same commitment to wellness that Goodwill has for its employees and community. We also wanted Goodwill to be able to benefit from its investment in its company wellness program. n 4 continued Among the wellness tactics implemented by Goodwill: Health Risk Assessments to test for BMI (Body Mass Index); blood pressure; cholesterol; and glucose screenings; A Walking & Movement Challenge ; An Ultimate Loser Challenge which challenge employees in a friendly competition to lose weight together; Annual Health Fair and Flu Shots; Changes to company prescription benefits for example, over-the-counter medications to help quit smoking are now covered under the company s prescription plan; Discounted gym memberships to local area YMCAs are offered to employees; Healthy Rewards program where employees earn points for gift cards when they exhibit healthy behaviors and results; Site coordinators Employee volunteers at each of Goodwill of the Chesapeake s locations throughout central Maryland help keep the program alive and employees engaged. Touching Employees Lives with Good Will and Health Duella Clark, Safety Coordinator for Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc., and Auriana Vila, of Goodwill s Snowden River Parkway store in Columbia, have both taken advantage of Goodwill s new workplace wellness program with excellent results. My health is a lot better now than it used to be, says Auriana. She was told by her doctors that she was at risk for Type II diabetes. So she turned to Goodwill s Workplace Wellness Program for help. My doctors told me I had to lose weight, and I did! I lost 22 pounds over the last year, she says proudly. She has also continued practicing a healthier lifestyle going to the gym regularly, at least three times a week. She has also completely cut out starches, soda and juice, and drinks a lot of water behaviors she said she learned as a result of Goodwill s program. Duella also turned her health around with the help of Goodwill s wellness program. She used to be a heavy smoker. But, with the help of the program, she was able to completely quit and started exercising instead. She also adopted a host of additional healthy behaviors as a result of which she has lost 11 pounds. This included giving up her daily dose of sweet tea from the dollar menu in favor of water. Now, I drink 64 ounces of water every day, she announces, and my body lets me know it if I haven t had enough. I ve changed everything about myself, she says, all because [WellAdvantage] said to me, You re borderline for heart attack and stroke, and that really scared me. I feel great now. n About Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake L-R: Duella Clark, Safety Coordinator; Amy Newman, Vice President, Human Resources; Auriana Vila, Retail Associate. For more than 90 years, Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake, Inc. has helped others help themselves. Goodwill has collected reusable items for resale in its retail stores, trained people for work and living skills, and instilled dignity and purpose in countless peoples lives. Today, the organization has more than 500 employees, provides paid training to another 173 individuals, operates 25 retail stores, 7 career development sites, and provides a variety of commercial services at several locations.

5 NEW IWIF Online Safety Guidance and Information Resources FREE As a leader in promoting workplace safety in Maryland, IWIF has created the IWIF Safety University. The new micro website contains a variety of helpful workplace safety tools and resources. The library of information and resources are free* to anyone to access. Visit and click on Safety University. Online safety resource topics and information include: Loss Control Services provided by IWIF Effective Hiring Practices Safety Flicks Video Library* Safety Posters Library Safety Tip Sheets/Handout PDFs English/Spanish Workplace Safety Pocket Guide Booklets Starting a Workplace Drug Testing Program Workplace Wellness Overview *You must be a policyholder to order or download full length minute Safety Flicks video training presentations. FREE 15-minute Safety Tip of the Month Video Anyone can view and use these monthly, short, Flash video safety tips for a safety presentation. Created by the Wumbus Safety Corporation, each video is professionaly produced and covers the major points of safety for a number of topics. Safety Videos Coming Attractions: October Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls: Stranger Than Friction November Driving Distractions of the Professional Driver December Personal Protective Equipment: Your Last Line of Defense IWIF encourages policyholders to schedule short training sessions to allow employees to view these informative safety videos online. 5

6 Safety Saves Expert Guidance When IWIF Loss Control Loss Control Comes Calling Getting Serious With Safety Recommendations to Find Solutions, Not Fault Worker s Lives Business Profitability 6

7 To help policyholders improve workplace safety, IWIF provides free safety services using professional loss control consultants. IWIF consultants provide recommendations to help spot hazards, identify poor safety practices, and provide assistance in developing safety policies all of which can help prevent and control your losses and the costs associated with them. While other insurance carriers often charge a fee for loss control services, IWIF provides these services as a value-added benefit to every policy we write because it is our social responsibility to do so. Our public mission is to help protect Maryland workers and employers by championing workplace safety, says Kama Kolbe, Vice President of Underwriting and Loss Control. IWIF s Loss Control department consists of a dozen highly skilled professionals with one or more industry certifications and many years of experience. They service the 21,000 Maryland businesses that insure with IWIF. While IWIF has almost 400 standard safety recommendations reflecting the most common types of safety hazards, our consultants also customize recommendations to fit your needs. At times, a critical recommendation must be written depending on the severity of the situation and the likelihood of serious injury or death. Safety recommendations are an important part of a business risk management evaluation, says Howard Thomas, IWIF Loss Control Supervisor. Implementation is designed to prevent or reduce employee injuries, thus improving the employer s profitability. IWIF s recommendations typically are made during meetings with the company s management team, where there is a thorough review of safety policies and procedures, coupled with an evalu- Top Safety Recommendations for Employers The most frequently cited recommendations issued by IWIF: n 1. Senior Management Commitment to Safety n 2. Effective Hiring Practices n 3. Establishing an Active and Effective Safety Committee n 4. Conducting Root Cause Accident Investigations n 5. Ergonomic Lifting Policy n 6. Safe Lifting Policy for Healthcare Employers n 7. Workplace Drug Testing n 8. Driver Safety Training n 9. Fall Protection n 10. Hazard Communication Training n 11. Hearing Conservation Program n 12. Personal Protective Equipment SAFETY SAVES SUCCESS Mary Smith, IWIF Loss Control Consultant, offered safety recommendations for a non-profit organization that works with animals. Among Mary s recommendations were (1) hiring a safety director; (2) implementing a return-towork policy; (3) changing the company s hiring practices to ensure better quality employees; (4) re-engineering certain physical aspects of the facility to make it safer for employees; and (5) insisting employees wear PPEs such as hearing protection and gloves when working with animals. After implementing Mary s recommendations, this organization s frequency or $ number of losses fell considerably. Consequently, the policyholder earned a 60% reduction in premium for the current policy year! ation of the workplace. Our recommendations represent the opportunities available for improving workplace safety through best practices and safety programs for that industry. Prompt compliance with these recommendations is looked upon very favorably by IWIF s Underwriting Department because it is viewed as a demonstration of the employer s concern for the safety of his/her employees. This favorable consideration could have a positive impact on your premium. For more information on IWIF s Free Loss Control Recommendations, contact IWIF Loss Control Supervisors Howard Thomas at or Adrienne Kaspar at You can also losscontrol@iwif.com. 7

8 Ask the IWIF Experts As Maryland s leader and expert in workers compensation insurance, IWIF professionals are available by phone, and in person to help answer your questions. We also encourage you to contact your agent partner and to visit our website, for more frequently asked questions and answers. Q: As a business owner in today s difficult economy, how can IWIF help save me money on my workers comp premium? A: In terms of your premium, probably the biggest area that you as a policyholder have control over is your experience rating, which is also known as your experience mod, or e-mod. The e-mod is calculated using the base premium (payroll by applicable class codes pertaining to your business, multiplied by the base rate for that class) applied to your particular company s losses (the frequency and severity of your claims). Policyholders whose loss experience has been worse than average tend to have higher e-mods than those whose loss experience is better than average. Your e-mod is based on a 3-year period of loss history, not including the most recent year. So, for example, if your policy will be up for renewal in 2012, the number of claims you had, along with their severity, in 2010, 2009, and 2008 are used in promulgating your upcoming renewal term e-mod. The outcome of the mod has an impact on how high or low your premium can go. Maintaining a trend of accident-free behavior over a period of time will help your future experience mods. In controlling your losses, you should begin to see your e-mod trend downward, as a credit is applied to your premium. That s why it s so important to maintain a safe workplace not only because it helps prevent accidents to employees, but also because it literally can help you save money on your workers comp insurance. IWIF s Underwriting and Loss Control departments will work with you and your agent to recognize you for safety-conscious behavior. Marty Balenger, IWIF Underwriting Technical Specialist, AINS, AU Q: Why are Loss Control recommendations so important? A: For Loss Control, the recommendations process, though crucial, represents just one area of IWIF s partnership with policyholders. The consultant s observation and understanding of a business policies, safety programs, and the health and safety at its worksites, help generate our recommendations. This brings a proactive approach to managing risk. We know that prevention efforts help to keep injuries down, which, in turn, help to reduce workers compensation claims, insurance premiums, and possible state and federal safety and health citations. All of this has a positive influence on the insured s bottom line. Internally here at IWIF, Loss Control recommendations help our Underwriting department make fair pricing decisions based on a business commitment to safety and compliance with our expert advice. Howard Thomas, IWIF Loss Control Supervisor Visit IWIF.com under the I Am an Employer section for more Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. 8

9 From Annapolis 2011 Maryland Legislation Impacting IWIF and Workers Compensation Insurance HB 70/SB 85 (Budget Bill); HB 72 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act of 2011 The Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act ( BURFA ) bill amended the Insurance Code to apply the 2% premium tax to IWIF on the same basis as other insurers. SB 180/HB 173 (Business and Economic Development Invest MD Program) This bill establishes an Invest Maryland Program to allow insurance companies to purchase credits against the insurance premium tax in order to fund investments in qualified businesses in the State. The goal is to create a fund through which the State could assist start-up technology companies. The Department of Business and Economic Development will administer the new Maryland Venture Fund. SB 212/HB 417 (Workers Compensation Death Benefits Dependency) and SB 805 (Workers Compensation Death Benefits Dependency MACo) These bills were the product of an extensive interim study over a 2-year period in which IWIF participated. The result is a bill that would correct a profound disparity that previously existed under the workers compensation statute. Since some counties opposed the bill for fiscal reasons, the bill provides that counties could opt-in to the bill but were otherwise not covered. SB 269/HB 453 (Workers Compensation Jurisdiction Pending Appeal Proposed Settlement) This bill expands the circumstances under which the Workers Compensation Commission retains jurisdiction pending an appeal of a Commission order to include a request for approval of a proposed settlement of all or part of a claim. IWIF supported this bill. HB 392/SB 568 (Workers Compensation - Venue for Appeal) IWIF supported this bill as it would remove the uncertainty and consequent litigation over proper venue when a workers compensation case is filed in the Circuit Court. As a result, venue will be governed exclusively by the LE Article and will allow a case to be filed in the county where the accident occurred, where the injured worker resides or where the employer is principally located. SB 571/HB 763 (Insurance Delivery of Notices by Electronic Means) This bill authorizes any notice to an insured or policyholder required under specified provisions of law governing insurance policy cancellations, nonrenewal, premium increases, and reductions of coverage to be delivered by electronic means under specified circumstances. SB 693/HB 598 (IWIF Employee Compensation) This bill confirms that the IWIF Board is exclusively responsible for setting salaries of IWIF employees and exempts IWIF from state-imposed salary restrictions and furloughs. SB 883/ HB 1229 (Prescription Drug Monitoring Program) This bill establishes a prescription drug monitoring program and requires all dispensers to report data to the program when dispensing controlled dangerous substances. The purpose is to prevent drug abuse and to identify unlawful prescription drug diversion. This is an Administration bill that enjoyed wide support, including IWIF s. The complete text of each bill is available online at the General Assembly web site, mlis.state.md.us under Bill Information and Status. 9

10 Customer Service Ease of Doing Business Payroll Service Payment Options Paying premiums is easier than ever JOIN the more than 200 IWIF policyholders who take advantage of the convenience of a payroll service provider! When you choose one of our approved payroll service partners to manage your payroll functions, your workers compensation premium payment will coincide with your payroll schedule. Furthermore, your premium will be calculated on actual, not projected, payroll, which streamlines the year-end audit process. Improve your cash flow Never again will your workers compensation premium be estimated. You ll no longer need to make a lump-sum payment.* Choose one of our approved payroll service partners, and your IWIF premium payment will coincide with your payroll schedule helping you maintain a healthy cash flow for your business. How it works Each pay period, you will send your payroll to your vendor to process. The vendor will communicate your payroll to IWIF. IWIF will then calculate the premium cost for your payroll period and inform you of the amount due. Shortly after each pay date, IWIF will automatically debit the premium amount from an account designated by you. How payroll service payment options benefit you: l No premium down payment or installment fees l Improved budgeting and cash flow l Streamlined audit process at year-end For more information about these payroll services, please contact the companies listed on page 11 directly. *Notwithstanding premium audit adjustments 10

11 IWIF News Shorts Payroll Service Partners Payce Payroll Services (existing customers) (new customers) Since 1983, Payce has been providing reliable payroll services to companies like yours throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and across the nation. Accuracy, responsiveness, and personal service are the cornerstones to Payce s quality service. In 2006, Payce Payroll Services was selected by IWIF to be the initial provider of this new flexible payment plan. KTBS Payroll KTBSPayroll is a web-based payroll management system that offers full integration of payroll, workers compensation, and employee benefits through Kelly s Total Benefits Solutions technology (KTBSOnline), a proprietary benefit management system of its affiliate Kelly & Associates Insurance Group. Custom Payroll Services Founded in 1995, Custom Payroll Services offers all the features and benefits of the larger national companies with the personalized service of a local provider. The company s motto of People not processing is supported by their commitment to providing the highest level of customer service while using the very best in today s technology. Payroll Services LLC way-2-pay Payroll Services LLC (PRS) is a complete payroll processor servicing clients with one to 600 employees. PRS provides clients with services ranging from payroll processing in all 50 states to complex job costing and employee benefits. Whether your company needs payroll or health insurance, PRS has the right solution for your company. GBS Payroll Plus, Inc An affiliate of Group Benefit Services, Inc., GBS Payroll Plus (GBS) is committed to developing creative solutions that help employers achieve their business goals. They offer an impressive suite of business service tools designed to help you be more productive and profitable. Efficient administration, advanced technology, cost containment strategies and creative benefit designs allow clients to realize their strategic benefit plan and financial objectives. GBS offers the opportunity to cost effectively and efficiently manage payroll, benefits and human resource needs. Valley Processing Services you need. Prices you can afford. Valley Processing offers clients leading-edge payroll solutions; fair, upfront pricing; and no hidden fees. Your payroll is on time, every time! Valley Processing has been providing professional payroll management to small & mid-size businesses since New IWIF Executive Leadership and Board Members Announced Orr Senior Vice President, Information Systems Steven Orr, CPCU, and former Maryland Insurance Commissioner is now responsible for managing all aspects of IWIF s information systems operations. New Board Members Gioioso Shaik Chief Investment Officer Julio Shaik, CFA, will manage IWIF s investment portfolio and advise the company s board of directors on investment strategies to improve portfolio return. Tucker The IWIF Board of Directors welcomes two new members, Mr. Wayne Gioioso, Sr., a real estate investor and property developer, and Mr. Ivory Tucker, a retired officer of Northrop Grumman. is published by the Injured Workers Insurance Fund. We invite your comments and suggestions to improve our print and newsletters, as well as our website. Please call the Communications Dept. at or visit our website/contact Us page/communications. Missed an Issue? Visit iwif.com under the Employer/ Publications section for PDFs of back issues. 11

12 8722 Loch Raven Blvd., Towson, MD IWIF Main Number Outside the Baltimore Area IWIF Proud insurance partner with these associations and safety programs: f NEW! Like us on Facebook & get more safety tips. Visit IWIF.com and click on our Facebook icon link. This helpful newsletter is provided as a service by IWIF and your agent PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No Baltimore, MD R U Online s eservices? Convenient. Easy. Fast. Secure. IWIF s instant eservices allows users to sign-up online to get immediate access to most IWIF policyholder eservices*. Instant eservices account creation and access will instant eservices Access* allow you to: 3 View Invoices 3Pay Your Premium 3Obtain Certificates of Insurance *Please Note: The Employer s First Report of Injury (FROI) access is not available as an instant eservice and must still be requested and approved by your company s primary contact/officer due to business protocols and privacy concerns. MHI Maryland Home Improvement Sign-up instantly! No need to wait 7 days for a pin# to access IWIF eservices * WASHINGTON AREA NEW AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION istock photo