Stay-at-Work services

We all face challenges to our health and well-being at times. When this happens to your employees, you want them to know that you care - and that you understand their unique situation. Most importantly, you want them to know that you’re there to help by creating a supportive, inclusive, and healthy work environment.

When an employee faces challenges due to a mental health related medical condition, it does not always mean they are unable to work. In fact, you may have an employee who has had a change in their cognitive or behavioural abilities due to a medical condition but is still contributing to your workplace. In these circumstances, a case manager from our Stay-at-Work Services (SAWS) team will take a collaborative approach to optimize treatment plans and provide solutions to improve or maintain an employee’s performance and/or attendance in the workplace. During this time, the employee would continue to work through their treatment plan while being supported by a SAWS case manager.

SAWS is designed to proactively address specific employee needs – the goal of which is to prevent or reduce the chance of absences.

Prevention and early intervention are often the best ways to address absenteeism, reduce disability occurrence and promote a safe, timely return to work when a disability occurs.  Manulife SAWS program lets your employees benefit from access to tailored support focused on keeping them healthy, engaged, and productive.

SAWS includes:

• Intermittent absence management – An assessment performed on employees who have been absent periodically for reasons that are self-identified as medical in nature. This assessment helps determine if a future absence may be expected and medically justified and/or if workplace accommodations may be necessary to help reduce the chance of absences.
• Workplace accommodations – An assessment that provides guidance and support for employees with medical needs that are not totally disabling but may require workplace accommodation based on medical requirements.
• Ergonomic assessments – On-site assessments that identify any possible risk factors and provide employees with education on workstation set-up and mechanics. Examples of risk factors include repetitive movements, uncomfortable work postures and carrying heavy loads. Employers are also provided with recommendations on modification to equipment or workspace. This service can help you optimize the physical environment of an employee’s workspace to prevent or address injury or illness and create safe work environments.