Sun Life Financial is introducing a new suite of absence management services for plan sponsors with salary continuance plans, the company announced Monday.

“EarlyReturns” offers a flexible approach to absence management that combines Sun Life’s case management with advisory services, a robust service provider network, and absence prevention strategies.

A 2007 Watson Wyatt Worldwide survey of leading providers showed that Sun Life’s short-term disability (STD) case management results are the best among those surveyed as measured by absence duration — a key metric when it comes to curbing costs.

“Our customers are telling us that, in today’s turbulent economy, they need their employees to be healthy, productive and fully engaged if their business is to succeed,” says Dave Jones, vp, market development, group benefits, Sun Life Financial Canada. “At the same time, chronic illness, mental health issues and unhealthy lifestyles are increasing the number and/or duration of employee absences from work. Managing those absences is becoming more complex for employers, especially in today’s climate. EarlyReturns’ holistic case management provides the right care at the right time to ensure that employees can return to health and to work quickly.”

In addition to case management, the product offers four complementary services to help tackle specific absence challenges:

> Return-to-Work Advisory Services allow plan sponsors who prefer to handle their own case management to consult with Sun Life experts on how best to return employees to work quickly and safely;

> Service Provider Express gives plan sponsors access to Sun Life’s national network of health professionals who are specialists in their field;

> Chronic Casual Absence Services assess situations involving high rates of chronic, cyclical or patterned absenteeism;

> Absence Prevention Strategies help tackle organizational issues that may be driving absenteeism.

Services are modular, so plan sponsors can choose the services that meet their specific needs, Sun Life says.