Injury or illness that calls for time off is often necessary for recovery, but can present a challenge when it comes time to return to work. While return-to-work strategies tend to be geared toward reducing costs related to worker’s compensation, a program for re-entering the work force can also save organizations in the way of time invested in training valuable talent. What follows are some ways to support an employee’s return to work after injury or illness.
Return to Work Programs
Having an established return-to-work (RTW) program helps make the process fair while prioritizing corporate objectives. Through planning, training and communication, RTW initiatives demonstrate the organization’s commitment to the employee.
RTW programs couple safety programs with accident prevention relying on worker’s compensation requirements. The ultimate goal is to establish a safe environment that limits accidents or any chance of recurrence exposure. The benefits of RTW programs are not limited to employees who have experienced injury or illness as such practices can be extended to employees returning from family medical or personal leave.
Rehabilitative Services are Essential to Easing Recovery
As an employee is acclimating to the work environment, they may have need to pursue injury treatment services to help overcome limitations. With the help of experienced professionals including medical doctors, chiropractors, surgeons and physical therapists, patients receive treatment for both acute and chronic conditions. The team of experts can typically treat illness, accident or injury that have affected the neuromusculoskeletal system.
Support Strategies and Method of Approach
Employees returning to the workplace may face considerable stress both physically and mentally after an injury and while still recovering. Employers who remain positive and focused on the options open to both parties will help to avoid making assumptions about what the employee can and cannot do.
There are options when it comes to a strategy that will suit the situation such as bringing back the employee to work on a part time basis, modifying duties or modified schedules, telecommuting and implementing accommodations. If the employee is provided with the tools or resources that may be used to facilitate carrying out duties or responsibilities, both the employee and the employer can realize the benefits.
The Benefits of Welcoming an Employee’s Return to Work after Injury
Undoubtedly, a business suffers through the absence of a good worker missing time due to injury or illness while hoping for their fruitful return. Make the most of your efforts to help an employee return to work sooner during their recovery time to help the employee protect their earning power while simultaneously boosting productivity for the organization.
There are many reasons a person must take time away from work. Illness or injury need not be work related. For example, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, back pain or mental health issues are just some of the conditions that could result in long-term absence from work. Having the ability and opportunity to return to work following injury or illness can play an integral part in facilitating the recovery process, too.
Embracing RTW initiatives as an organization is a cornerstone to any absence management program. Integrating disability requirements ensures you are doing everything to keep the working environment safe for both the employee and the organization. Geared toward both the short and long term productivity objectives, RTW is about a sustainable culture that fosters a sense of accomplishment.
