Tips for Developing a Successful Return-to-Work Program

Each year, more than two million workers experience workplace injuries or illnesses. For small businesses that are already struggling with labor shortages, lost time due to an injury or illness can be especially challenging. Workers’ compensation insurance enables workers to get the medical care they need while providing a portion of their lost wages as they recover. Having an effective return-to-work program, which allows employees to return to a light-duty job while they recover from a work-related injury or illness, is also important and can benefit both workers and employers.

For an employer, return-to-work programs help retain skilled workers, improve productivity, and lower workers’ compensation premiums through lower claim costs—helping the business stay competitive and minimizing workflow disruptions. For a worker, reestablishing social connections with coworkers by being back on the job can boost morale, speed recovery, reduce skill loss, and provide greater financial peace of mind.  

Here are five tips to consider when developing a return-to-work program:

1. Be sure the workplace provides a safe environment for return-to-work employees, so they can continue to heal. 
2. Create a list of specific tasks that can be evaluated by a recovering worker’s health care provider to determine what can be safely performed. This may include anything from light-duty tasks like meaningful office work to working a less strenuous in the shop or performing safety inspections.
3. Delegate who will be responsible for the return-to work program, who will monitor the employees duties, and who will be checking on the injured workers’ progress. Develop a workflow document that is updated and circulated throughout the company. 
4. Develop training for supervisors who are involved in the return to work process. Be sure they understand and enforce any work restrictions that the injured employee has.
5. Reach out to the employee early and often. Most employees don’t want to sit at home. Let them know they are a valuable part of the company, and the organization wants to bring them back by helping them as much as possible.

Your workers’ compensation insurance carrier may offer return-to-work resources and services, including options for employers who are unable to accommodate injured workers’ physical restrictions. For instance, Acuity offers a transitional return-to-work program to bridge the gap between an injured worker's existing work capability and what the employer can offer by working with local non-for-profits to place workers into temporary positions.