Enhance Return to Work with Stay At Work Programs

Return-to-Work (RTW) programs have long been a staple for companies aiming to reintegrate injured employees into the workforce during their recovery. These programs not only help maintain productivity but also manage costs effectively. Recently, many businesses have enhanced their RTW initiatives by incorporating Stay-at-Work (SAW) policies. Under a SAW program, most injured employees are given modified duties or even entirely new roles immediately after their initial medical evaluation.

Immediate Modified Duties with SAW Programs

In a Stay-at-Work program, the company’s workers’ compensation coordinator promptly contacts the medical provider while the injured employee is en route for medical care. The coordinator informs the provider that the company will accommodate the injured employee with modified duties that adhere to the physician’s medical restrictions, including offering sedentary work if necessary. Additionally, the workers’ comp coordinator requests immediate communication of any work restrictions following the initial medical visit.

A robust SAW program involves tailoring the employee’s job description, adjusting their work schedule, and potentially relocating their workstation to ensure compliance with medical restrictions. This flexibility not only minimizes productivity loss but also fosters employee loyalty and engagement.

Advantages of Stay-at-Work Programs

Integrating a Stay-at-Work program with a traditional Return-to-Work initiative amplifies the benefits of both. By minimizing the duration that an injured employee is away from work, the combined programs offer several advantages:

• Reduced Lost Time: Fewer days lost to injury.
• Consistent Productivity: Maintained productivity levels.
• Improved Employee Morale: Employees appreciate the employer’s efforts to ensure their income remains steady.
• Stable Profits: Predictable financial performance for the employer.

Real-World Application of SAW Programs

Consider an employee who suffers a non-displaced arm fracture with a recovery period of three months—six weeks in a cast followed by six weeks of physical therapy. Traditionally, under an RTW program, the employee might return to work in two to three weeks with restrictions on using the injured arm. However, with a SAW program, the employer arranges for suitable sedentary work on the same day as the injury, accommodating any additional restrictions specified by the physician.

Conclusion

Effectively implementing a combined RTW/SAW program can significantly reduce overhead and enhance profitability by lowering overall workers’ compensation costs.

Michael Stack, CEO of Amaxx LLC, is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and provides education, training, and consulting to help employers reduce their workers’ compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is co-author of the #1 selling comprehensive training guide “Your Ultimate Guide to Mastering Workers’ Comp Costs: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%.” Stack is the creator of Injury Management Results (IMR) software and founder of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center. WC Mastery Training teaching injury management best practices such as return to work, communication, claims best practices, medical management, and working with vendors. IMR software simplifies the implementation of these best practices for employers and ties results to a Critical Metrics Dashboard.

Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.

Workers’ Comp Roundup Blog: http://blog.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/

Injury Management Results (IMR) Software: https://imrsoftware.com/

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