Week 3 Lectures

Question 1

Why is early RTW good?

Answer 1

• Assist re-establishment of control
• Reduce negative effects of physical and psychological reconditioning
• Prevent a break in the occupational-bond
• Enhance employee motivation to RTW
• Address business & human aspects for timely recovery and safe RTW;
• Minimize separation and loss of support from co-workers
• Decrease isolation, loneliness and psychological problems
• Opens lines of communication between employee/family &workplace
• Enhance employee’s expectations for recovery (associated with reduced
  time away and success)
• Avoid delays in appropriate service
• Ease process of coping and adjusting for employee/family
• Encourages family to provide positive reinforcement and support
• Cost-effective

Question 2

How can employers have early RTW?

Answer 2

• Day 1 reporting
• Identification of barriers to return to work
• Developing the Plan
• Outlining
  expectations early

Ongoing participation in development of RTW plan
* Ongoing evaluation and reevaluation of processes, policies and strategies
need to be assessed to ensure maximum benefit is being realized

HOW TO DEVELOP A GRTW PLAN
* Start early
* Involve all relevant parties in planning, e.g. worker, employer, doctor and/or specialist,
nurse, case manager/adjuster, physiotherapist or other treating professionals.
* Document whether the employee is aiming to return to their original role, a
different role, or a permanently modified role
* Confirm job demands, clarify expectations, identify and address return to work
barriers (JDA or JSV)
* Ensure that employee has a named contact (line manager and/or HR contact) who
they will have most contact with whilst working through the plan.
* Clarify who is responsible for monitoring and how often
* Agree on duties needed to be performed and document them clearly
* Try not to make the objectives appear too daunting
* Be open to amendments

• Agree to days to work, how many hours and when breaks will be.
• In the early stages it might be helpful to work every other day, particularly if they have
  a pain or fatigue.
• Set out all of the details in a table format, to clearly show days expected to work and
  duties expected to carry out.
• Consider work simulation during clinic portion of the program
• Increase the number of hours the employee works slowly. Dependent upon the
  employee’s condition, the duration of each phase could be increased by weeks or
  months.
• Consider job coaching at the site
• Review the schedule
• Sign off by all parties
• Communicate, communicate, communicate!

Question 3

Essential Elements of a work disability program

Answer 3

1. Policy and accountability
2. Proactive prevention strategies
3. Accommodation and offers of modified work
4. Work Disability Prevention coordination
5. Co-worker and supervisor support
6. Education and training
7. Employer contact with injured worker
8. Communication wit health care providers and insurers
9. Measurement

Question 4

7 principles of successful return to work

Answer 4

1. The workplace has a strong commitment to health and safety, which is demonstrated by
   the behaviours of the workplace parties.
2. The employer makes an offer of modified work
   (also known as work accommodation) to injured/ill workers so they can return early and
   safely to work activities suitable to their abilities.
3. RTW planners ensure that the plan supports the
   returning worker without disadvantaging coworkers and supervisors.
4. Supervisors are trained in work disability prevention and included in RTW planning.
5. The employer makes early and considerate contact with injured/ill workers.
6. Someone has the responsibility to coordinate RTW
7. Employers and health-care providers communicate with each other about the workplace
   demands, as needed, and with the worker’s consent.