CenturyLink Named Latest Workplace Possibilities Champion

The Standard recognizes excellence in disability and absence management

PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) maintains a pioneering award honoring employers that have achieved excellence with the Workplace Possibilities^℠ program — a unique, proactive approach to help prevent and manage absence and disability in the workplace. CenturyLink, a leading global technology company dedicated to upholding the values of the Workplace Possibilities Champions award, has been selected as a 2020 Workplace Possibilities Champion.

“CenturyLink is a true advocate of the Workplace Possibilities program demonstrated by their dedication to enhancing employee well-being and mental health over the last seven years,” said Brian Kost, senior director of the Workplace Possibilities program at The Standard. “They have a genuine commitment to evolve their benefits strategy and employee support program in order to create a positive working environment for everyone. We are proud to award CenturyLink with this well-deserved recognition.”

CenturyLink has a long-term strategy focused on improving employees’ behavioral health and helping provide them with the services they need to return to work. Simply put — their approach is centered on their employees’ unique needs, providing them tools such as frequent benefits updates, including adding up to 80 hours of emergency, excused, paid time off to all U.S. employees for COVID-19-related issues, tactics to build resiliency and improve wellness and benefits summaries. They also have consistent health and wellness communications, and training, such as formal and informal classes for managers and employees.

“We believe that highly engaged, healthy employees help us provide a strong customer experience,” said Tamara Parker, benefits manager at CenturyLink. “The Standard’s Workplace Possibilities program provides a natural extension to this philosophy, supporting our people through good and bad times. We can help employees better manage their recoveries and help them with the flexibility to keep working or to come back to work effectively after a disability leave. Receiving this award reinforces our commitment to creating the best workplace possible.”

In the last two years CenturyLink has been able to effectively assist employees through The Standard’s Stay at Work Services by assessing workstations, implementing accommodations and removing barriers to employees’ comfort, safety and ability to perform their job. The Workplace Possibilities program encourages employers to rethink their disability programs to help keep employees at work and increase productivity. The program helps employers save time and money by:

• Identifying opportunities to assist or accommodate employees who may otherwise be at risk of absence or disability
• Supporting those who take leave to come back to work quicker through accommodations, modifications and other resources

The Workplace Possibilities Champions award recognizes employers that are exceeding expectations for their implementation and ongoing partnership with the Workplace Possibilities program.

The winning organization is selected based on a list of criteria, which includes:

• Initiating employee referrals to the program
• Promoting the program to managers, supervisors and other staff members
• Partnering with The Standard to customize accommodations for employees
• Training managers, supervisors and team leaders about the program
• Excelling in change management

To schedule an interview with Brian Kost from The Standard and/or Mark Molzen from CenturyLink, please contact Kayla Golden at [e-mail].

About The Standard

The Standard is a family of businesses dedicated to helping customers achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. In business since 1906, we are a leading provider of financial products and services for groups and individuals. Our products include group and individual disability insurance, group life, dental and vision insurance, voluntary (employee-paid) benefits, absence management services, and retirement plans and annuities for employers and individuals. For more information about The Standard, visit www.standard.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries: Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., StanCorp Mortgage Investors, LLC, StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., StanCorp Real Estate, LLC, and StanCorp Equities, Inc.

About CenturyLink

CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that enhances the customer experience. Learn more at http://news.centurylink.com/.