Steps Toward a Return to Work Steps Toward a Return to Work Program Program

Outline developed by:Outline developed by:

Mike Fredebeil (Asst. Vice President, Willis Mike Fredebeil (Asst. Vice President, Willis Construction Group)Construction Group)

James Skelton (Sr. Loss Control Consultant, James Skelton (Sr. Loss Control Consultant, BB&T)BB&T)

Jerome A. Stevenson Jr. (Corp. Safety Dir., Jerome A. Stevenson Jr. (Corp. Safety Dir., L.E. Schwartz & Son, Inc.)L.E. Schwartz & Son, Inc.)

Steps Toward a Return to Work Steps Toward a Return to Work Program Program

Obtain commitment from your Obtain commitment from your management team.management team.

Develop a long term approach as Develop a long term approach as opposed to short term solutions.opposed to short term solutions.

See the injured employee as a team See the injured employee as a team member. member.

Steps Toward a Return to Work Steps Toward a Return to Work Program Program

Develop a Return to Work policy.Develop a Return to Work policy.

Appoint a resource to coordinate Appoint a resource to coordinate the program.the program.

Provide training to key personnel.Provide training to key personnel.

Steps Toward a Return to Work Steps Toward a Return to Work Program Program

Provide each employee a copy of Provide each employee a copy of the Return to Work policy.the Return to Work policy.

Managers.Managers.

Key personnel.Key personnel.

Current & New Employees.Current & New Employees.

Steps Toward a Return to Work Steps Toward a Return to Work Program Program

Develop a strong Safety and Accident Develop a strong Safety and Accident Prevention program.Prevention program.

This program should include strong safety This program should include strong safety policies.policies.

Develop and enforce a strong discipline Develop and enforce a strong discipline policy.policy.

Return to Work FactsReturn to Work Facts

Employees out of work longer than 6 Employees out of work longer than 6 months have a 50% of returning to months have a 50% of returning to work.work.

Litigation is 50% lower if contact is Litigation is 50% lower if contact is made to an injured employee within 7 made to an injured employee within 7 days.days.

Employees out of work 14 or more days Employees out of work 14 or more days have financial difficulties.have financial difficulties.

Effective Disability Management, 2001. Liberty Mutual.Effective Disability Management, 2001. Liberty Mutual.

Return to Work Facts Return to Work Facts

Litigated claims can result in increased Litigated claims can result in increased claims’ cost (up to 80%).claims’ cost (up to 80%).

Return to Work doesn’t always mean Return to Work doesn’t always mean Light DutyLight Duty..

Returning injured employees to work Returning injured employees to work reduces Workers’ Comp. Premiums.reduces Workers’ Comp. Premiums.

Effective Disability Management, 2001. Liberty Mutual.Effective Disability Management, 2001. Liberty Mutual.

Return to Work Facts Return to Work Facts

Each company pays for insurance Each company pays for insurance premiums.premiums.

The insurance company pays the The insurance company pays the injured worker:injured worker:

Medical benefits.Medical benefits.

Lost Wages (66 2/3%) and indemnity.Lost Wages (66 2/3%) and indemnity.

How Cost Affects the Bottom Line, 2003. BB&T.How Cost Affects the Bottom Line, 2003. BB&T.

Cost of Workers Compensation Cost of Workers Compensation

STATE RATE FOR EACH JOB TYPESTATE RATE FOR EACH JOB TYPE

X X PAYROLL FOR EACH JOB TYPE PAYROLL FOR EACH JOB TYPE

MANUAL PREMIUMMANUAL PREMIUM

X Experience Modifier (Safety Grade)X Experience Modifier (Safety Grade)

= STANDARD PREMIUM= STANDARD PREMIUM

GOODGOOD

.85.85

AVERAGEAVERAGE

1.001.00

POORPOOR

1.501.50

Cost Effect on Workers’ Comp. Cost Effect on Workers’ Comp.

$50

$100

$150

$200

THOUSANDS

.85 MOD 1.00 MOD 1.50 MOD

$85K $100K

$150K

How Cost Affects the Bottom Line, 2003. BB&T.How Cost Affects the Bottom Line, 2003. BB&T.

Return to Work FactsReturn to Work Facts

Using the previous chart strict risk Using the previous chart strict risk management practices can result in:management practices can result in:

Increased profitability.Increased profitability.

Reduced losses.Reduced losses.

Reduced workers’ compensation premiums.Reduced workers’ compensation premiums.

Return to Work FactsReturn to Work Facts

Strong safety practices will include:Strong safety practices will include:

Strict risk management.Strict risk management.

Strong claims adjustment.Strong claims adjustment.

Strong Return to Work program.Strong Return to Work program.

Employees must know that these practices Employees must know that these practices are the company’s policy.are the company’s policy.

Return to Work TechniquesReturn to Work Techniques

Consider terminology:Consider terminology:

Modified duty.Modified duty.

Temporary alternative position.Temporary alternative position.

Permanent alternative position.Permanent alternative position.

Review the Review the OSHA 300 LogOSHA 300 Log..

Return to Work TechniquesReturn to Work Techniques

Develop modified or alternative duties.Develop modified or alternative duties.

Even if they are not currently available.Even if they are not currently available.

Duties should always be forwarded to the Duties should always be forwarded to the physician.physician.

Keep a rolling database of duties.Keep a rolling database of duties.

Let the physician modify or specify limitations.Let the physician modify or specify limitations.

Return to Work TechniquesReturn to Work Techniques

Provide a copy of job descriptions to the Provide a copy of job descriptions to the physician.physician.

Ask representatives (from the Ask representatives (from the physician’s office) to visit your job-sites.physician’s office) to visit your job-sites.

Post required documentation in Public Post required documentation in Public Access areas.Access areas.

I.e. – Lobby, HR Manger’s office, jobsite I.e. – Lobby, HR Manger’s office, jobsite trailer.trailer.

Return to Work TechniquesReturn to Work Techniques

Provide every employee a copy of your Provide every employee a copy of your return to Work package.return to Work package.

Obtain signatures indicating reception.Obtain signatures indicating reception.

If an employee is injured give him or her If an employee is injured give him or her a copy of the W/C laws and obtain a a copy of the W/C laws and obtain a signature.signature.

Let the employee initial by a copy of the Let the employee initial by a copy of the Panel Physician at the time of treatment.Panel Physician at the time of treatment.

Return to Work TechniquesReturn to Work Techniques

Contact the employee within 7 calendar Contact the employee within 7 calendar days.days.

Studies reflect that Studies reflect that In-touchIn-touch EmployersEmployers are are more likely get employees back to work.more likely get employees back to work.

Morale calls improve communication and keeps Morale calls improve communication and keeps the employee involved with company news.the employee involved with company news.

The company can obtain general assessments.The company can obtain general assessments.

Return to Work Techniques Return to Work Techniques

Require accidents to be reported Require accidents to be reported promptly (w/in 24 hours).promptly (w/in 24 hours).

Discipline the violator.Discipline the violator.

Always require a drug screen at the Always require a drug screen at the time of medical treatment.time of medical treatment.

Return to Work Techniques Return to Work Techniques

Track all time.Track all time.

Modified, Alternative, or Lost.Modified, Alternative, or Lost.

Lost time is most expensive.Lost time is most expensive.

Wages paid by carrier.Wages paid by carrier.

Effects premium.Effects premium.

Return to Work Techniques Return to Work Techniques

Lost time (cont’d):Lost time (cont’d):

Employer must rehire.Employer must rehire.

Employer must retrain.Employer must retrain.

Will the new employee fit in.Will the new employee fit in.

Quality of work, dependability, etc.Quality of work, dependability, etc.

Return to Work Return to Work BenefitsBenefits

Reduces lost time severity.Reduces lost time severity.

Employees are seen by Occ. Medicine Employees are seen by Occ. Medicine physicians that can provide quality for physicians that can provide quality for work-related injuries.work-related injuries.

Potential to avoid legal complications.Potential to avoid legal complications.

Shifts focus to an ability as opposed to Shifts focus to an ability as opposed to disability.disability.

Return to Work Return to Work BenefitsBenefits

Employee has attachment and sense of Employee has attachment and sense of job security.job security.

Employee stays active.Employee stays active.

Positive impact on worker morale and Positive impact on worker morale and productivity.productivity.

Reduced Costs.Reduced Costs.

Sample Return to Work Forms Sample Return to Work Forms

Following forms are available in Following forms are available in electronic format:electronic format:

Georgia State Board Return to WorkGeorgia State Board Return to Work

Georgia DOAS Return to WorkGeorgia DOAS Return to Work

Always file a claim for your states Always file a claim for your states Subsequent Injury Trust Fund Subsequent Injury Trust Fund (if applicable). (if applicable).

Sample Return to Work Forms Sample Return to Work Forms

Following forms are available in Following forms are available in electronic format:electronic format:

Return to Work PolicyReturn to Work Policy

Panel of PhysicianPanel of Physician

Refusal of TreatmentRefusal of Treatment

Texas State Board Return to WorkTexas State Board Return to Work

Sample Return to Work Forms Sample Return to Work Forms

(cont’d):(cont’d):

Managed Care Organization (MCO).Managed Care Organization (MCO).

Drug/Alcohol Screen Consent Form.Drug/Alcohol Screen Consent Form.

Modified Duty Acceptance Form.Modified Duty Acceptance Form.