RETURN TO WORK
Profit Sheet – Cost Reduction Guide
Costs involving employees who miss less than 7 days of work affect insurance costs by 30% of those where the employee misses more than 7 days.
Observation | Solution |
---|---|
1. Difficulty with Getting Employees Back to Work | Managers prepared to offer modified jobs |
2. Delay in Assigning Transitional Duty | Get physician work release, coordinate with doctor and employee |
3. Prevent re-injury | Employee required to follow restrictions |
REDUCING COST EXPOSURES:
- Difficulty with Getting Employees Back to Work:
- Create a list of light duty tasks prior to any injury. Focus on the following:
- Lifting 15 pounds or less
- Use of only one arm
- Sitting only
- Alternate sitting and standing
- Train managers and employees that return to work is important, and it is a benefit to them (they will not lose their jobs due to an injury).
- Ensure managers know of the goal (# of days) targeted to get them back to work. The clock starts ticking from the moment they are aware of the injury – regardless of if it is reported or not.
- Create a list of light duty tasks prior to any injury. Focus on the following:
- Assign Transitional Duty
- Send employees to approved medical providers as soon as the injury is learned of.
- Have a single point of contact in your organization who is accountable to you for managing this process, follow-up, and work closely with your workers compensation insurance company.
- Once restrictions are assigned, immediately let the employee know a job is available. If they employee complains of issues from the injury, then send them back to the doctor for re-evaluation.
- Prevent re-Injury
- Train managers to monitor employees that are on transitional duty restrictions, and do not let them perform tasks beyond the restrictions, even if the employees says they are capable.
- Train all employees to not pressure the injured employee to do other tasks. All employees should be trained that return to work is a benefit to all, and that the company will stand by them in a time of difficulty.
- If the employee complains of any pain or discomfort performing a task that is within restrictions, have a doctor re-evaluate the employee’s condition.
FREE RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING RETURN TO WORK:
Resources from Profiting From Safety – www.profitingfromsafety.com