{"id":118399,"date":"2024-09-24T08:30:52","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T12:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/?post_type=magazine&p=118399"},"modified":"2024-10-02T15:12:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T19:12:20","slug":"5-tips-to-create-a-successful-return-to-work-program","status":"publish","type":"magazine","link":"https:\/\/trainingindustry.com\/magazine\/fall-2024\/5-tips-to-create-a-successful-return-to-work-program\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips to Create a Successful Return-to-Work Program"},"author":34,"featured_media":107345,"template":"","tags":[28978,5348],"class_list":["post-118399","magazine","type-magazine","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-return-to-the-workplace","tag-return-to-work-plan","global_topic_tax-compliance","global_topic_tax-onboarding","magazine_issue_tax-fall-2024","magazine_article_type_tax-how-to-info-exchange","magazine_article_type_tax-info-exchange"],"acf":{"sponsored":false,"gated":false,"gated_content_type":"","file_attachment":null,"gated_content":"","form_instruction_header":"To access the full article, please fill out the form below:","pardot_html_embed":"","author_override":true,"author_name":"Steven Potratz","author_image":"","author_bio":"Steven Potratz<\/a> works in the HR department for a retailer with stores spread across the Rocky Mountains and Texas. He oversees L&D, workers\u2019 compensation and safety programs. Email Steven<\/a>.","excerpt":"Here are five steps L&D teams can take that will keep many employees working through an injury in a manner that accommodates their restrictions and minimizes the financial impact.","main_content":"When the compressor tipped, it slammed the leg of the ladder just as Jaykan was reaching the top. Thrown off balance, the ladder slid sideways and Jaykan fell, landing hard on his left shoulder with a shock of pain as his collar bone fractured in two places. The falling ladder struck his knee, badly bruising his leg and creating a four-inch laceration on his thigh that bled heavily and required 12 stitches to close. The doctor ordered Jaykan off work for six weeks while his collar bone and leg healed due to the heavy physical labor that his job as a stocker required.\r\n\r\nAs the sole provider for his wife and two young girls, Jaykan could not cover his bills on the 65% pay that workers\u2019 compensation insurance would grant while he was off work. But with his arm in a sling, and his injured leg, he didn\u2019t have much choice. Or did he?\r\n\r\nWithout evidence to the contrary, the doctor will assume Jaykan needs to work his normal job if he returns. On that assumption, he writes Jaykan off work. This costs the company money in higher workers\u2019 compensation insurance premiums, and significantly impacts Jaykan\u2019s personal finances. There is a better way.\r\n\r\nHere are five steps learning and development (L&D) teams can take that will keep many employees working through an injury in a manner that accommodates their restrictions and minimizes the financial impact to all parties.\r\n

Step 1: Meet With Leaders to Identify Options<\/h2>\r\nMeet with management and human resources (HR) to understand potential tasks or roles an injured employee can fill based on common accommodation needs. Get creative and brainstorm tasks across the company so you are ready for injuries as they happen rather than having this meeting for each occurrence. Changes for an injured employee can be as simple as a cashier sitting on a stool to accommodate a broken leg, or as significant as having an employee work in an entirely different role during their recovery period.\r\n\r\nIn Jaykan\u2019s example, perhaps he could answer phones, place simple sales calls, sit at a table and price products or other things that only require one hand and sitting. His manager could even assign additional training for Jaykan\u2019s primary role, which could help him become a more valuable employee once he recovers.\r\n

Step 2: Create a \u201cWork Accommodation Job Description\u201d<\/h2>\r\nThis is a job description template (or series of templates) full of the different tasks you came up with in Step 1. Before the employee goes to the doctor, management can cross out items that won\u2019t fit the likely accommodation needs. Then Jaykan can present the modified job description to the doctor who can write approval for returning to work based on that job description instead of Jaykan\u2019s normal role.\r\n\r\nElements of a return-to-work job description can include:\r\n