Identify Employees for the Program

Who is a good candidate for the program? 

You don’t need to know what the employee’s health issue is (a diagnosis or a doctor’s note) in order to determine if the employee is eligible. If you suspect the employee has an ongoing health issue—based on observations you’ve made or things you've heard—tell the employee about the program. The employee can determine if the program is right for them.

Here's a simple checklist to help you identify potential candidates for the program:

Employee must: 

• Be covered by a NYL GBS-insured long-term disability plan. 
• Currently be working full- or part-time. 
  
• Have an ongoing serious health condition. 
  
• Not have an active, pending, or in-appeal workers' compensation claim for the serious health condition. 
  
• Be willing to participate.

Employee is: 

• Calling out sick, coming in late, or leaving early due to health issue(s). 
• Struggling to complete job tasks. 
  
• Complaining of pain or discomfort on the job. 
  
• Asking for new or different equipment (such as a new chair) to be more comfortable. 
  
• Known to have been absent in the past due to the same health condition.

Refer Employees to the Program

STEP 1: Complete a Healthy Working Life Program Referral Form

This form will be shared with a vocational coach to provide the coach with basic information about the employee.

STEP 2: Get Employee Authorization

Have the employee sign a Release of Information Authorization Form.

The signed authorization form must be received before a vocational coach can begin to work with your employee. The form allows the coach to communicate recommendations with your contact person and other rehabilitation vendors, if needed and approved. 

Give the employee the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the program and what to expect when working with the vocational coach.

STEP 3: Submit the Forms

You or your employee must email or fax the completed forms to the addresses listed on the forms.

Once the referral is received, the vocational coach will send an email to the individual who submitted the forms acknowledging receipt of the referral within two business days.

STEP 4: Notify the Employee

Let the employee know that a PreDisability program coordinator will contact the employee soon to set up an appointment and discuss the situation privately.

Note: 

Please refer to the Find Important Resources section, including the Schedule of Service and the Participant Guide, for more information. 

Employees on intermittent Family Medical Leave whose leave is being managed by NYL GBS may be referred to the NYL GBS Healthy Working Life program by leave managers ONLY. This ensures that employees receive just-in-time services without delay and does not interfere with the employee’s right to use family medical leave. 

Employees covered under a NYL GBS ADA administrative plan can still work with a vocational coach but must file for a workplace accommodation request though the ADA program. 

As a best practice, referrals should come through the program point of contact (as opposed to a manager or the employee). This helps you to be better involved in every step of the process when an employee may be requesting an accommodation.