What is a Return to Work Program?
Return to work programs, true to their name, are a set of protocols and guidelines to help injured workers reintegrate into their employment position after they have taken time off due to injury or illness.
If you value your employees, you should know that the longer an injured worker is off work, the less likely they are to return. On average, if a worker is off for 12 or more weeks, there is only a 50% chance that they will return to the same job. If they’re off for more than 1 year, there is a less than 5% chance they return to the same job. Developing a coherent return to work program will help you keep your valued employees and ensure that they have a job after recovery. Here, we’ll go over two questions: “what are the benefits of a return to work program for an employer?” and “how does a return to work program benefit an injured worker?”
We’ll also give you some insights on how you can start creating your own program. (more…)