Four key actions will help you work with your employee to ensure a successful return to work.
Contact your employee
Contact the employee as soon as possible after an injury and follow up regularly. This allows you to manage the process and provides your employee with a link to the workplace, reassurance and support.
Understand your employee’s job
If your employee does not have a functional job description, get together and write down what their job involves, or access the Work type detail sheets. Include other jobs they could possibly do while recovering from injury.
Inform the treatment provider
Give the job information to your employee’s treatment provider. Include other supporting documents, eg consent form, list of suitable duties. This information will help the treatment provider make a more informed decision when considering the employee’s fitness to return to work.
Gain consent and communicate openly
A consent process that allows you to discuss your employee’s situation with their treatment provider will improve your ability to manage and/or be involved in your employee’s return to work. Early, regular and open communication between those involved is essential to ensure everyone knows what part they play in the process.
Last updated: 15 December 2009