With health-benefit cost inflation putting pressure on payrolls and budgets, your time-off programs can be a critical source of savings. The Mercer/Marsh Survey on Health, Productivity, and Absence Management Programs sheds light on the growing use of program management initiatives and plan integration — and resulting improvements in administrative efficiency and cost control.

Encompassing both occupational and nonoccupational programs, the survey explores the effectiveness of a variety of incidental absence and disability management techniques. In 2007, 611 employers participated.

The report covers vacation plans, paid-time-off banks, sick leave plans, disability benefits, workers' compensation programs, health and productivity management, and behavioral health programs. It is the most comprehensive source of information available on plan design, costs, and management trends.