This article discusses the results of the Guardian Life Insurance Company of Americas 2017 Absence Management Activity Index and Study. Please read the article, download the 2017 Guardian Absence Management Activity Index and Study (The 2017 Guardian Absence Management Activity Index and Study), and answer the following questions:\ \ According to the 2017 Guardian Absence Management Activity Index and Study, if an organization decides to create an absence management program, what are the 5 Best Practices they should adopt? According to the report (See page 9), absence management practices vary by industry, such that companies in the finance, insurance, and education industries have more advanced absence management programs than those in retail, wholesale, and manufacturing. What is/are the reason(s) for this disparity?