Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation’s Regional Companies Offer Fit4Work™

Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation’s regional commercial lines companies are now offering workers’ compensation policyholders Fit4Work, a new integrated disability management program that accommodates the return to work needs for companies of all sizes.

Published on July 15, 2011

For 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported nearly one million occupational injuries or illnesses that included lost time from work. For the same year, The National Safety Council reports 55 million days lost due to work injuries. Rising medical costs make it all the more important for employers to consider implementing effective return to work programs. According to Fit4Work program developers, integrated disability management programs have been shown to reduce lost work days by as much as 35 percent.

Designed in collaboration with the Liberty Mutual Center for Disability Research, Fit4Work helps employers get workers back on the job with temporary, transitional work assignments, including modified or alternate duties that are within an employee’s current physical capabilities. Fit4Work employs an integrated disability management approach that provides defined roles for underwriters, marketing, and agents, in addition to those of claims, loss prevention, and managed care personnel. Fit4Work teams at each regional company advise employers on development of return to work programs, workplace education, and work conditioning to restore employees to their full work capacities.

“Delays in engaging disability management resources coincide with increases in disability duration and costs,” said Steven Westerdahl, claims director, Regional Companies Group Claims. “We know that for every dollar spent on a workers’ compensation claim, three more are spent on hidden costs, such as reduced productivity and replacement employees. Fit4Work gives employers the resources they need to return employees to the work place within appropriate disability durations.”

Fit4Work teams provide at-injury assistance for smaller employers, serving as an employer’s return to work coordinator and helping it through the disability management process until an employee returns to regular duty. The program recommends that companies with at least two lost time claims per year establish a return to work program coordinator and identify temporary modified and alternate duty work options using Fit4Work industry guides. For companies with more lost time claims per year, Fit4Work recommends implementing a return to work program that includes supervisor disability management expectations.

Participating employers receive a Fit4Work Toolkit that contains all program materials, resources and tools. It includes temporary, transitional work suggestions by industry and other materials to help employers improve disability results. Fit4Work resources are flexible and can be applied differently by employers based on account size and claim frequency. Agencies appointed with America First Insurance™, Colorado Casualty™, Golden Eagle Insurance™, Indiana Insurance™, Liberty Northwest®, Montgomery Insurance™, Ohio Casualty™, and Peerless Insurance™ may contact their local Territory Manager for more information on Fit4Work or visit each regional company’s website for the complete portfolio of Fit4Work resources.

About Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation

Liberty Mutual Agency Corporation, a business unit of Liberty Mutual Group, offers personal and commercial insurance through independent agents throughout the United States. Commercial lines products are offered through eight regional companies and Liberty Agency Underwriters, which provides specialty commercial products, including excess casualty and program business. Personal lines products are offered nationally under the Safeco Insurance brand. Liberty Mutual Surety provides nationwide contract and commercial surety and fidelity bonds.