Providing employers with end-to-end solutions for managing workplace injuries
WATERLOO, ON, June 29, 2011 – Today, Manulife Financial Group Benefits launches Occupational Management Services, addressing the needs of employers dealing with injuries that occur at work and creating an integrated workplace injury and disability benefits program. Workplace injuries have a significant financial and productivity impact on employers and the Canadian economy. In 2010, workers compensation claims across Canada totaled over $11 Billion*.
“Workplace safety is of vital importance to employers. But accidents – – and injuries – – do happen. Managing occupational injuries and coordinating workers’ compensation claims can be time-consuming and complicated for employers, with significant financial implications,” says Manulife’s Rick Brunet, Executive Vice President, Group. “Occupational Management Services is a natural extension of our expertise and core strength in absence and disability management. Employers have been asking us to support all forms of absence with a consistent approach regardless of cause. We are well-positioned to make a very positive difference for our clients.”
Employers benefit from better financial outcomes, reduced administrative responsibility, and improved productivity. Employees benefit from health recovery support, provided from the time of injury through a return to work. Occupational Management Services offers end-to-end support for all aspects of occupational injuries including claim filing, return to work support and financial claims and program management.
A distinctive feature of Occupational Management Services is that it provides employers with the ability to integrate workplace injury claims support with Manulife’s long term disability program. “This service simplifies and improves the process for both employer and employees,” says Kathy McIlwham, Vice President, Group Life and Disability. “Moving from workplace compensation to long term disability previously involved dealing with two separate organizations, but Manulife is streamlining that transition resulting in a better experience for both the employer and the employee.”
Taken together with long term disability, Occupational Management Services completes the comprehensive package of options available from Manulife to manage all absences, ensuring that employers have access to the support they need through every step of the process, now and in the future.
For more details about Occupational Management Services or other Manulife Group Benefits products and services, please visit our website at www.manulife.ca/groupbenefits.
* Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada
About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 22 countries and territories worldwide. For more than 120 years, clients worldwide have looked to Manulife for strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients around the world. We provide asset management services to institutional customers worldwide as well as reinsurance solutions, specializing in life and property and casualty retrocession. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were $478 billion (US$492 billion) as at March 31, 2011. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.
