Studies by Aflac and Prudential Financial address the impact of paid leave in the workplace

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Sep 25, 2024, 08:00 ET

COLUMBUS, Ga., Sept. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 3 out of 4 American workers say they experienced stress and anxiety while covering for a coworker on paid/extended leave,¹ according to dual studies by Aflac Incorporated and Prudential Financial, Inc.

In addition, about half of workers say they experienced burnout when covering for an employee whose leave extended beyond nine weeks,¹ according to the studies, one by Aflac focusing on how employees are impacted by a coworkers' leave, and another by Prudential, focusing on how employers are supporting workers who cover for employees on leave. The studies by the two companies, both leading providers of group life, absence, disability and supplemental health insurance in the U.S., were combined into a single presentation on Aug. 6 at the 2024 Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

"As we continue to navigate the evolving landscape of paid leave in America, it's critical to understand the impact on those who remain at work and the challenges it can present to employers," said Bryon Bass, CEO of DMEC. "These studies highlight the importance of effective communication and recognition in support of employees who are using their bandwidth to maintain business continuity while their colleagues are on leave. By addressing these key areas, employers can ensure a healthier, more productive workforce."

Aflac and Prudential shared their key findings from studies with DMEC conference attendees and provided key data to illustrate how employers can support and recognize employees who cover for their coworkers who are on leave. According to the studies:

48% of employers have seen an increase in employee leaves in the past 12 months.²
94% of employers report taking action to provide support to employees covering for coworkers on leave,² but only 74% of employees report their employers have taken any action.¹
73% of workers experienced stress and anxiety while covering for a coworker.¹
42% of workers experienced burnout when covering for a coworker whose leave period extended beyond 9 weeks.¹

Kristin Tugman, Ph.D., and VP, Holistic Wellness, Health & Productivity for Prudential, said information from the studies will enable employers to define best practices and create efficiencies, including staffing models that preserve the well-being of the employees who are working hard to ensure business continuity.

"American workers put in long hours that can impact work-life balance and their own personal mental and physical well-being," Tugman said. "Employee perspectives have changed post-pandemic, and the new generation entering the workforce expects employers to value their health and well-being. This new perspective, coupled with the increase in employee leaves, will require employers to evaluate their work environment."

Jenny Merrithew, vice president, Marketplace Solutions at Aflac, said the coordinated studies will generate important dialogue to help employers and employees achieve a balance with managing work and time away effectively.

"As more states and employers embrace paid leave as a covered benefit and as a means to attract top talent, it becomes more essential that all parties gain a greater awareness of how it will impact the ecosystem in terms of bandwidth, costs and productivity," Merrithew said.

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ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED

Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.³ In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn't cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under "Sustainability."

Group life, disability, and absence services are provided by Continental American Insurance Company (CAIC); in New York, products and services are provided by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York; in California, coverage is offered by Continental American Life Insurance Company. Products may not be available in all states and may vary depending on state law.

ABOUT PRUDENTIAL

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately $1.5 trillion in assets under management as of March 31, 2024, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential's diverse and talented employees help make lives better and create financial opportunity for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential's iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for nearly 150 years. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.

Prudential Group Insurance manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term disability, and corporate and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. to institutional clients primarily for use within employee and membership benefit plans. The business also sells critical illness, accidental death and dismemberment, and other ancillary coverages. In addition, the business provides plan administrative services in connection with its insurance coverages, and administrative services for employee paid and unpaid leave including FMLA, ADA, and PFL.

Group Insurance coverage is issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a Prudential Financial company, Newark, New Jersey.

¹Workers Left Behind Employee Study 2024. Aflac Incorporated. Published August 2024.
²Workers Left Behind Employer Study 2024. Prudential Financial. Published August 2024.
³LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report.

Media contact (Aflac): Jon Sullivan, 706.573.7610 or [email protected]
Media contact (Prudential Financial): Marisa Amador, 973.802.8969 or [email protected]

SOURCE Aflac