• Analytics
    Analytics
    Analytics

    What is the true cost of health in your organization? You may think you know, but unless you're integrating data across all benefit sources, you're likely missing 40% of health and benefit related costs. Workpartners is the only company that can fully integrate and analyze all of your data.

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    Analytics

    What is the true cost of health in your organization? You may think you know, but unless you're integrating data across all benefit sources, you're likely missing 40% of health and benefit related costs. Workpartners is the only company that can fully integrate and analyze all of your data.

    Mega Menu Img
    Analytics

    What is the true cost of health in your organization? You may think you know, but unless you're integrating data across all benefit sources, you're likely missing 40% of health and benefit related costs. Workpartners is the only company that can fully integrate and analyze all of your data.

    Mega Menu Img
    Analytics

    What is the true cost of health in your organization? You may think you know, but unless you're integrating data across all benefit sources, you're likely missing 40% of health and benefit related costs. Workpartners is the only company that can fully integrate and analyze all of your data.

    Mega Menu Img
    Analytics

    What is the true cost of health in your organization? You may think you know, but unless you're integrating data across all benefit sources, you're likely missing 40% of health and benefit related costs. Workpartners is the only company that can fully integrate and analyze all of your data.

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  • Advocacy
    Advocacy
    Advocacy

    Workpartners’ advocacy programs and services are about maximizing our clients’ and their employees’ health and well-being, reducing absenteeism, and reducing overall benefit costs—person by person.

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    Advocacy

    Workpartners’ advocacy programs and services are about maximizing our clients’ and their employees’ health and well-being, reducing absenteeism, and reducing overall benefit costs—person by person.

    Mother and son cuddling and hugging on the front porch in the cold weather
    Advocacy

    Workpartners’ advocacy programs and services are about maximizing our clients’ and their employees’ health and well-being, reducing absenteeism, and reducing overall benefit costs—person by person.

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  • Absence
    Absence
    Absence

    An integrated strategy is the most efficient way to reduce employee absences. Our comprehensive programs unite the experience of a multidisciplinary team—leave and workers' compensation specialists, short-term disability specialists, nurse case managers, medical directors, and safety and vocational rehabilitation professionals.

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  • Technology
    Technology
    Technology

    More than ever before, unlocking and optimizing human capital costs is critical to the success of your company. And technology plays a vital role in powering the programs required to manage your human capital and successfully lead your organization.

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    Technology

    More than ever before, unlocking and optimizing human capital costs is critical to the success of your company. And technology plays a vital role in powering the programs required to manage your human capital and successfully lead your organization.

    A male and female engineer in an office looking at a computer while coding.
    Technology

    More than ever before, unlocking and optimizing human capital costs is critical to the success of your company. And technology plays a vital role in powering the programs required to manage your human capital and successfully lead your organization.

    A male and female engineer in an office looking at a computer while coding.
    Technology

    More than ever before, unlocking and optimizing human capital costs is critical to the success of your company. And technology plays a vital role in powering the programs required to manage your human capital and successfully lead your organization.

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  • Workers' Compensation
    Workers' Compensation
    Workers' Compensation

    We believe that when your employees are at their best, they perform at their best. We call this People Activation, and we believe it’s the key to ensuring your company and your employees flourish. This philosophy is at the core of our workers’ compensation services where we provide a total program management approach.

    Our total program management approach brings efficiencies and economies of scale to your workers’ compensation program.

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    Workers' Compensation

    We believe that when your employees are at their best, they perform at their best. We call this People Activation, and we believe it’s the key to ensuring your company and your employees flourish. This philosophy is at the core of our workers’ compensation services where we provide a total program management approach.

    Our total program management approach brings efficiencies and economies of scale to your workers’ compensation program.

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Newsletters

Core Competency Spotlight: Absence - Fall 2025

Supporting workforce well-being with smarter absence management

Employee absence is a natural part of any workplace, but managing it effectively requires more than tracking time off. It involves compliance, coordination, and care. At Workpartners®, our absence management services are designed to help organizations navigate this complex landscape with clarity and confidence.

Workpartners offers a comprehensive, integrated absence management program that combines technology, analytics, and service expertise.

  1. Technology-Driven Administration

Our proprietary tool, Absence Monitor™, supports real-time tracking of call-offs and leave approvals. It’s accessible via desktop and mobile devices, and it can be customized to meet organizational needs.

  1. Data-Informed Decision Making

We use advanced analytics to help employers understand their absence trends. This includes:

  • Peer benchmarking.
  • Utilization patterns.
  • Frequency and duration analysis.
  • Monitoring for overuse or unusual patterns.

These insights are compiled into a scorecard that can help leadership evaluate program performance and make informed adjustments.

  1. Centralized Intake and Support

Our 24/7 U.S.-based intake center serves as a single point of contact for employees and HR teams, streamlining communication and ensuring consistency. 

  1. Integrated Benefits Coordination

Employees on leave are connected to other relevant benefits, such as disability coverage, wellness programs, and employee assistance resources. This holistic approach ensures that employees can receive the support they need during their time away from work.

Executive Spotlight: Linda Croushore

Linda Croushore is the assistant vice president of Absence at Workpartners, a role she has held since 2021. She oversees all aspects of the Absence line of business, bringing strategic vision and operational excellence to this critical area of the organization.

Linda has been a valued member of the Workpartners team since 2000. Her expertise in vocational rehabilitation and psychology has helped shape the company’s approach to absence management and employee well-being.

She holds a master’s degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Vincent College. Linda is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Pennsylvania and holds the Certified Leave Management Specialist (CLMS) designation from the Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC).

Her leadership, dedication, and passion for helping others have had a lasting impact at Workpartners and across the industry.

Legislative Updates

Maryland Delays Paid FAMLI Implementation

The Maryland Department of Labor has officially announced a revised timeline for the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. According to the department’s public statement, payroll contributions will now begin on July 1, 2027, and benefits will become available starting July 1, 2028.1

This delay—enacted through Senate Bill 355—was introduced to give employers, workers, and the state additional time to prepare for the program’s rollout.

Department of Labor Relaunches Opinion Letter Program to Support Employer Compliance

According to a public announcement from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the agency has relaunched its Opinion Letter Program, expanding access to official guidance across five key enforcement divisions.2

The program now includes participation from:

  • Wage and Hour Division (WHD) —covering the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
  • Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).
  • Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
  • Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)2.

Workpartners is closely monitoring these developments and will continue to support clients with compliance guidance and strategic planning as the new implementation dates approach.

Product and Service Innovations

UPMC Honored with Prestigious National Award for Workforce Well-being

The Business Group on Health has named UPMC one of its 2025 Best Employers: Excellence in Health & Well-being Award winners. This prestigious honor is given to organizations that go beyond traditional wellness programs to advance workforce well-being, health equity, and innovative benefits strategies.

UPMC was recognized for its holistic strategy that integrates physical, mental, and financial well-being—an approach that Workpartners helps deliver to clients across the country.

The recognition underscores Workpartners’ role in shaping and executing UPMC’s award-winning well-being initiatives. By leveraging data-driven insights and a human-centered philosophy, Workpartners empowers organizations to improve employee health outcomes and productivity.

The Business Group on Health accolade affirms UPMC’s leadership in employee well-being and reinforces Workpartners’ position as a trusted partner in delivering measurable, meaningful results for employers and their people.

Events

Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) Annual Conference—Supporting a Resilient Return-to-Work Experience

At this year’s annual DMEC conference held in August in Washington, DC, Workpartners hosted an insightful session on the complexities and opportunities of the return-to-work (RTW) process. The session acknowledged the challenges employees face when returning to work, such as changes in job duties, insufficient communication, and lingering health or emotional concerns. It also highlighted the impact on co-workers who take on additional responsibilities during an employee’s absence and are eager to return to their normal roles.

Drawing on the latest research in resilience, the session provided practical strategies for employers to support both returning employees and their teams. Attendees received a structured process timeline that can help organizations build a more resilient and compassionate RTW program, foster smoother reintegration, and promote a culture of support and understanding.

This session also reinforced Workpartners’ commitment to holistic workforce well-being, and it offered actionable insights for brokers and employers to enhance their leave management strategies.

Thank you to those who joined the session! If you were not able to attend, we encourage you to explore our website for additional information on our integrated solutions. We hope to see you next time!

IBI and Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum—Building Optimal Staffing Using Integrated Data

We’re excited to return as both a sponsor and agenda contributor at this year’s IBI and Conference Board Health and Productivity Forum, taking place Oct. 15–17 in Chicago, IL. Join us for the preconference seminar where Jennie Wheeler, our associate vice president of integrated analytics, will be presenting insights on optimizing staffing strategies through integrated data insights.

References

1Maryland Department of Labor. (2024, May 20). Labor proposes extending implementation timeline for FAMLI. Retrieved from https://labor.maryland.gov/whatsnews/laborproposesextendingimplementationtimelineforfamli.shtml

2U.S. Department of Labor. (2025, June 2). U.S. Department of Labor relaunches opinion letter program to support compliance and transparency. https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20250602

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Newsletters

Eye on Engagement Newsletter - Spring 2025

Workpartners®, the People Activation Company, is part of UPMC and is headquartered in Pittsburgh. We take a holistic approach to tackling human capital challenges, integrating products and services such as leave and disability, employee assistance, benefits administration, onsite services, and health and wellness resources. Our data analytics capabilities share critical insights with brokers, consultants, and employers, converting data into actionable intelligence at an individual level.

Newsletters

Eye on Engagement Newsletter - Winter 2025

Workpartners®, the People Activation Company, is part of UPMC and is headquartered in Pittsburgh. We take a holistic approach to tackling human capital challenges, integrating products and services such as leave and disability, employee assistance, benefits administration, onsite services, and health and wellness resources. Our data analytics capabilities share critical insights with brokers, consultants, and employers, converting data into actionable intelligence at an individual level.