How to Design a Return to Work Program
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Sometimes, despite our best efforts and most proactive approaches to health and safety in the workplace, accidents happen. Of course, accidents, illness, and many other things also happen outside of work. Why? Because we’re human and we’re prone to accidents, injury, illness, and a whole host of other misfortunes that may result in needing time off work.
Whatever the circumstances, at some point employees will return to work. The design and length of the return to work (RTW) program will depend on the nature and severity of the injury, along with the nature of the work. A successful RTW program allows the employee to return at a rate that is not detrimental to their recovery efforts and overall physical and mental wellbeing. At the same time, the successful RTW plan also gets employees back to work and filling important roles, which is a benefit to the organization. |
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When an employee is off due to injury or illness, don’t forget about them
Return to Work Best Practices
The success of the RTW plan is not just dependent on effective design and management. Several other best practices can be put in place to help workers get back on the job with limited impact on the employee’s recovery and wellbeing.
People FirstYour workers are people first. They’re not cogs in a giant machine that serve only the purpose you assign them. They’re parents, siblings, children, friends and more to many others outside of the workplace.
RTW programs that are collaborative allow workers to have input, and make workers feel welcome to return when they’re ready are far more successful than those that just apply a standard formula to all RTW plans. This can be extended a step further by educating ALL employees on how your organization manages disability and RTW, and what their rights are within that program, especially around collaboration. Empowering your workers to participate in their own RTW is a very beneficial best practice. Take How to Effectively Negotiate a Return to Work Online Training Now |
Proactive vs ReactiveWhat’s better than having employees collaborate on their RTW plan? How about not having to create one at all? Focusing on prevention can reduce the incidence of accidents, injury, and illness at work.
Not sure where to start? Look at your past claims. What trends do you see? If there’s a common injury, start there. The Consultants at MidSouthWest Safety and Consulting can help you identify patterns and create proactive policies and procedures. |
Out of Sight is NOT Out of MindWhen an employee is off due to injury or illness, don’t forget about them. A good rule of thumb is to make early contact – usually about a week after the employee goes off. The goal is to express your concern and to remind the worker that you care about them as a person.
Another benefit of early contact is helping employees access resources to help them get better and get back to work. There’s a study that shows that early contact results in increased perceptions of fair treatment among injured workers, which resulted in high organizational commitment and better mental wellbeing once back on the job [1]. |
TrainingAt many workplaces, supervisors are tasked with managing RTW programs. Ensure they feel supported by getting them trained. This will also increase their effectiveness in designing, implementing, and managing these programs. Supervisors should learn:
Check out our Safe Return to the Workplace Online Course Suite |
Trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting
Need help getting started? MidSouthWest Training and Consulting offers an online Course Suite on Returning to Work as well as a great online course for Negotiating RTW Programs. We can also help you look at your policies, procedures, and safety program to ensure that you’re taking a proactive stance on disability management and that any trends or patterns are identified and addressed. Book a Meeting with a Consultant Today!
You can trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs.
To ask questions, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.
You can trust MidSouthWest Training and Consulting to provide you with cost-effective training solutions tailored to meet your organization’s unique health and safety needs.
To ask questions, contact us online or call 289.309.1143. Visit us 24/7 on the web at midsouthwest.ca.
Last updated July 11, 2022
[1] Hepburn, Kelloway, and Franche, “Early Employer Response to Workplace Injury,” Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 22(2012): 196-208.
[1] Hepburn, Kelloway, and Franche, “Early Employer Response to Workplace Injury,” Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 22(2012): 196-208.
