Helping someone return to work after an injury

Did you know people with an injury or illness recover quicker when they return to work as soon as possible? Work is good for our health and an important part of recovery.

Work has many physical and mental health benefits which are a type of therapeutic intervention for people recovering from an injury or illness. Research shows that people generally recover quicker (and have less long-term health issues) when they return to work as soon as possible.

While every individual and situation are unique and there may be some limitations after an injury or illness, it’s not necessary to wait until your employee is 100% recovered before they return to work. It’s important to remember that everyone is capable of work. Hours, duties, and workplaces can be flexible and modified to suit everyone.

Here are some guidelines to help you to support your employee to get back to work.

Respond quickly and positively

Early intervention and timely, positive support from you as the employer are critical. Research shows you may directly impact long-term outcomes through your communication style and behaviour during this time. Let your employee know that you’re there to support them and be specific about how you will provide that support.

Keep in touch

Regardless of how long your employee is away from work, keep in touch on a regular basis. This may make them feel supported and still part of the team.

Make a plan

Effective recovery and return to work requires an individual return to work (RTW) plan. You’ll need to work with your employee, HR team and RTW provider to create an appropriate RTW plan. This begins with identifying and removing barriers so your employee can get back to work in a positive, safe, and timely manner.

Know your responsibilities

Beyond the RTW plan, one of the most valuable things you can do to support your employee in their return to work is to make sure they can return safely and without any negative treatment. Regardless of where or how the injury or illness occurred, it is against the law to discriminate against someone who has suffered an injury or illness.

Be flexible and open minded

Remember that work is good for our health and benefits recovery. Everyone is capable of work, regardless of injury, illness, or disability.

As the employer, you need to be flexible and open minded about your employee’s return to work. You may need to make adjustments to the workplace to support their return to work. In many cases, the most common adjustment is flexible or part time hours.

Be collaborative

A return-to-work process involves many different parties, the employee, manager/team leader, senior management, HR, a RTW provider, allied health professionals, and the insurer. It's important to work with all these parties in a collaborative and cooperative manner.

If you need more help in supporting your employees’ return to work, APM can help with more than 25 years’ experience in this area.

We can provide return to work planning, specialist medical referrals, comprehensive case management, support to manage complex workers’ compensation and insurance claims and various assessments to support both the employee and employer in the return-to-work process.