Workers compensation is a valuable benefit for society’s working men and women; however, few consider the potential non-physical repercussions of an employee put on disability leave. The psychological impact of becoming a ‘disabled’ employee is profound. There is the possibility of a strained relationship between the employee and employer to consider, and also the related financial consequences for both parties.
Workers Compensation benefits do not differ from other disability insurance schemes in the fact that a disability must be demonstrated in order to gain access to benefits. The employee begins to learn how to live as a ‘disabled’ employee in order to receive benefits from this system.
Question: How can employees recover when benefits demand demonstration of impairment?
Answer: Slowly, at best.
Better Answer: Employer support systems to promote early return to work.
Managing employees’ quick and safe return to work is in the best interest of both employees and employers because…
- For the most common claims, the workers compensation system tends to prolong disability and increase costs.
- Injured employees who are out of work for a period of time longer than six months have only a 50 percent chance of ever returning to their job; for those who spend more than a year away from work, the rate of return drops below 10 percent.
- Managing the transition back to work for the injured employee is the humane answer to a key failure of the workers compensation system.
Successful companies control their health and disability costs with tools that restore autonomy to the injured employee. One of these sophisticated tools is the Early Return to Work program offered by Proof:Positive.
The Proof:Positive Early Return-To-Work program can:
- Foster and enhance the physical and psychological recovery process for the injured workers.
- Reduce medical, disability, and lost time costs.
- Reduce indirect accident costs.
- Minimize the chance of re-injury.
- Encourage cooperation between employees and management.
- Establish a more stable workforce.
- Enhance the injured employees sense of confidence and well-being.