Resources
Return to Work
The primary resource of all corporations is a trained and able employee workforce. Unfortunately, accidents and incidents in the workplace can result in lost time from work. These situations are expensive in loss of production and profitability.
Additionally, there are other costs associated that are intangible but factual. The injured employee often feels isolated and unwanted during his or her disability. The injured employee’s supervisor often feels additional pressure to maintain production with lesser-trained people. Workers’ compensation injuries can have a very significant impact on the financial and competitive status of your company.
The maximum weekly rate for workers’ compensation can exceed $640 per week. This equates to more than $33,400 a year. The Return-to-Work program (RTW) should be considered as an investment in your employees. The retention of trained employees is increased by their return to your workplace as soon as feasible. The injured employees soon realize the care demonstrated by your company through the endorsement of a RTW program. An additional benefit is derived from the co-workers viewing the actions and results of this program.
The RTW program continuously emphasizes the ability and not the disability of the injured employee. This theme is promoted with the injured employee, co-workers, and management. A total commitment from senior management is necessary for the success of the RTW program. The implementation of this program usually results in significant changes within your company on disability management. A principal goal of the program is to significantly reduce the lost time days and associated cost from disabling injuries.
We are striving to create a partnership with the employees, management, medical providers, and Citizens Management Inc. through the successful management of these actions. The following items address the design, implementation, and management of this program.
Benefits of the Return-to-Work Program
Every investment requires quantitative and qualitative measurements to assess the value and the return on the investment. Citizens Management Inc. will complete a detailed analysis of your current workers’ compensation cost. This review includes the causes and recommended actions to prevent injuries. The analysis provides a baseline of current experience for your location. A mutual goal setting between yourself and Citizens Management Inc. can then be completed in an informative manner from this data. The goal setting should include short-term (90 days) and long-term goals.
Workforce Benefits
- Maintains communication between the injured employee and the employer
- Promotes employee’s feeling of security with her/his employer
- Promotes management’s commitment to their workforce
- Supports in “good faith” the spirit of ADA laws
- Enhances the employee’s image of his/her employer
- Provides a focus on the health of the employee
- Helps to preclude the isolation of disabled employees
- Supports the injured employee’s continued participation in employer benefits and plans
- Replaces disability payments with a working paycheck
Employer’s Benefits
- Retain valuable and trained employees
- Reduce expensive turnover
- Promotes a positive work ethic
- Maintain continuous communication with the injured employee
- Reduce litigation expenses
- Encourages positive workforce morale
- Identifies and addresses causes of injuries to help prevent future incidents
- Returns better control to the employer of their workers’ compensation program and cost
Your Return-To-Work program should become an official part of your personnel and policy management. This topic should be explained to all newly hired individuals as it will assist in establishing the characteristics of your work ethic.