Absence and Disability Management with Ann Kuzee, Telus Health

In this episode of the HRchat show. Bill Banham talks with Ann Kuzee, Vice President Legal, U.S. Absence & Disability Management at Telus Health (formerly LifeWorks and MorningStar Health).

Ann started her journey with IEA Training as a student in the CPDM program. After she earned the certification, she later became a contributing consultant on the updating of the curriculum for the entire certification. Today, she serves on the faculty as an instructor of our Foundations in Disability Management course (CPDM1), and also presents regular updates on HR-related issues such as FMLA, EEOC, as well as an annual "New State Leave Laws" webinar. Writing as an IEA representative, Ann has also written articles for HR.com.

Ann currently serves as TELUS Health’s primary legal representative for its U.S. Absence & Disability Management division. In this role, she interprets regulations and other laws related to Federal, State, and Municipal leaves. She oversees, directs, and manages the delivery of in-house and outside legal counsel services related to Federal, State, and Municipal leaves.

Questions for Ann include:

• What exactly is an Integrated Absence and Disability Management Plan?
• In a recent LinkedIn post, you shared the following: "I'm happy to announce that I'm new to IEA's faculty as an instructor for their CPDM1 course, which is part of IEA's program to become a Certified Professional in Disability Management. My current position at TELUS Health, as their VP of Legal for their Absence and Disability Management division, which provides absence, disability, and leave management systems and claims management, allows me to share up-to-date knowledge and information on leave laws, ADA, short-term disability, as well as many other areas in the field of absence and disability management. If you are ready to master absence and disability management, take your expertise to the next level, and provide your employer with positive impacts and results to its absence and disability management programs, then pursue this nationally recognized certification like I have, and many others have." Tell us more.
• What key facts typically drive an organization to look at an integrated disability and absence management approach?
• What are the benefits that come under the umbrella of such a plan?
• What are the biggest challenges for an organization i