According to Aon Hewitt’s new absence management report, 85 percent of employers rank robust subject matter expertise regarding compliance as the most important component when measuring an absence management program’s success.

Of the 200 surveyed U.S. employers, which represent more than 3 million employees, 66 percent of respondents say improved employee productivity, behind compliance, is the next most important factor.

“We know during the recession, human resource departments were forced to do more with less, showing they could improve productivity while lowering costs,” says Matt Morris, senior counsel and leaves of absence practice leader for Aon Hewitt. “Yet our survey shows these same departments value compliance support above all else in measuring a successful program, which is understandable, given a decrease in resources and an increase in state and federal legal complexity. This includes outcomes such as productivity and cost.”