Absence Management presents a crucial and underutilized path to enhancing organizational processes and improving a company’s bottom line. The concept is simple enough – tracking and managing absences leads to a better understanding of which employees are absent, when, why, and for how long. Having a better grasp of these metrics allows companies to make decisions based on detailed, factual data, resulting in more effective policies and more efficient employees.

Yet the finer details of the absence management process can be complex and exacting. Rolling out an absence management program with limited experience or expertise relating to such an initiative, can prove challenging, if not, detrimental. A good place to start is at the beginning, understanding key acronyms, terminology and jargon. Let’s review some of the important acronyms and terms relating to these programs:

ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

ASA – Average Speed to Answer, a crucial metric for ascertaining the effectiveness and efficiency with which a company handles its incoming claims and reports of absence.

EDI – Electronic Data Interchange, a standard for transferring data electronically that enables efficient and precise communications between the parties involved in claims management.

IS – Intake Specialists are personnel trained specifically in the procedures relating to claim handling and FROI.

FCCR – Full-Cycle Claim Reporting is the process of managing a claim through a number of efficient yet rigorous steps up to and including confirmation of claim resolution with all parties. Full-cycle claim reporting ensures that details don’t get missed and that all parties are clear on the nature of the solution.

FMLA – The Family and Medical Leave Act is a federal law requiring employers to provide employees job-protected and unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.

FSA – A Flexible Spending Account is a tax advantageous account which allows an employee to set aside a portion of earnings to pay for qualified expenses, usually for medical expenses but also for dependent care and other expenses.

FROI – First Report of Incident, the moment the clock starts on handling the claim or notice of absence.

SROI – Subsequent Report of Incident, the exchange that reconciles the status of the reported issue with the status and method of resolution.

TRC – Time Reporting Codes are used with Time Administration Systems (TA) and can and should indicate different types of circumstances for which an employee may be absent.

There are many more acronyms and terms which pertain to Absence Management, from Behavioral Risk Integration to Workplace Wellness, from Disability Programs to Health and Productivity Management. The terms above are a good place to start when talking about these types of programs.

Some companies can successfully internalize the absence management process. Yet staffing a team of intake specialists can prove timely and costly for most organizations, thus many organizations now outsource some or all of their program requirements. With the high costs and impact of absenteeism, failing to leverage absence management in a corporate environment can expose organizations to significant productivity loss and additional risk. Every organization should implement this type of program for the benefit of both the employees and the bottom line.