FMLA Claims Up More Than 10 Percent in 2010 According to FMLASource, an Affiliate of ComPsych Corp.

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Oct 26, 2010, 12:39 ET

CHICAGO, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Claims related to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) have increased by more than 10 percent this year, according to a report by FMLASource, an affiliate of ComPsych Corporation. ComPsych is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs and worldwide leader in GuidanceResources (EAPs, behavioral health, wellness, work-life and HR/FMLA administration services).

"As companies continue to operate with leaner staffs in a slowly recovering economy, many workers are seeking FMLA job protection in order to take time off to care for themselves as well as family members," said Jim Brown, vice president of FMLASource. "These trends highlight the need for integrating support services – such as EAP and work-life – to address employee issues and shorten the length of absences."

FMLASource is a service that reviews, approves, processes and tracks leave requests with the oversight of expert legal staff, helping organizations reduce the amount of absences while complying with the complexities of the act. FMLASource also integrates with ComPsych GuidanceResources, including comprehensive EAP and work-life services. The top reasons for FMLA absences – (1) personal illness/injury, (2) caring for a child and (3) caring for an elderly relative – are employee issues that can be addressed by an EAP/work-life program. When applicable, FMLASource refers employees to these services to reduce the length of the absence and speed return to work.

This practice, as well as tighter controls and thorough monitoring and documentation processes, have resulted in a 40 percent average reduction in overall FMLA absences for FMLASource customers. "By removing the burden of FMLA administration upon an organization's staff, FMLASource can ensure compliance while reducing overall absences so that employers can control their costs, which is especially important in a tough economy," Brown added.

About ComPsych

ComPsych® Corporation is the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs (EAPs) and is the leading provider of fully integrated EAP, behavioral health, wellness, work-life, crisis intervention services and HR and FMLA administration services under the GuidanceResources® brand. ComPsych provides services to more than 13,000 organizations covering 33 million individuals throughout the U.S. and more than 100 countries. By creating "Build-to-Suit" programs, ComPsych helps employers attract and retain employees as well as improve employee productivity and performance. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ComPsych.

www.compsych.com

SOURCE ComPsych Corporation