Helping an employee get back to work after an injury

Transcription

1 Helping an employee get back to work after an injury

2 This resource has been developed by ACC to assist you in dealing with the impact of injury. However, you may find this resource can be applied to situations where you have an employee off work because of illness. Contact ACC we re here to help Contact your organisation s ACC Account Manager or Injury Management Consultant Contact your employee s ACC Case Manager/ Coordinator Call ACC on am-5pm weekdays Alternatively, you can [email protected] ACC information online

3 How you can help As a Manager/Supervisor, you play a key role in helping an employee get back to work following injury. Don t let time go by Make contact with your employee as early as possible. As your employee s Manager/Supervisor, you re their first point of contact at work, so it s important that you maintain open lines of communication Provide support Clarify expectations (eg. seek your employee s consent to receive information relating to the injury) Communicate with your employee s recovery team (eg. doctor, physiotherapist, ACC Case Manager/ Coordinator). 1

4 Make them feel valued It s important to reassure your employee that: They are valued They will still have a job (if they face a longer-term recovery). Let them know that your organisation is prepared to do all it can to help them recover and return to the same job they had before. This includes letting your employee know if there are alternative duties available while they recover. 2

5 Set realistic goals Develop a return to work plan that sets achievable and measurable goals with your employee. This will help them return to their usual job. Tip the key return to work contact in your organisation is likely to have ACC information to help you and your employee put together a return to work plan. Otherwise your organisation s ACC contact (eg. Account Manager, Injury Management Consultant) can be approached directly for assistance and to provide suitable return to work resources. 3

6 Adapt to their needs Consider adapting your employee s work environment or modifying their work practices, to make it easier for your employee during the initial stage/s of their return to work. Invite them to social events Depending on your employee s injury, inviting them to work social events will: Maintain their contact with your work environment Make it easier for them to return to work when they re ready. 4

7 Stay in touch Meet regularly with your employee to: Talk about their progress Make changes to their return to work plan if necessary. Let them know they re welcome to bring a support person to meetings. This may be a member of their family, treatment provider, union representative or their ACC Case Manager/Coordinator. 5

8 Consider others As a Manager/Supervisor, it s important that you: Consider what impact your injured employee may have on other staff when they return to work, including workloads Try to ensure that everyone stays safe and healthy during this time. 6

9 What are the benefits of an early return to work? It helps speed up your employee s recovery It helps your employee avoid financial difficulties, due to living on a reduced income It helps your employee maintain confidence, social contact, technical skills and knowledge The investment your organisation has made in the skills and knowledge of your employee is retained The level of morale in your workplace is improved/sustained, because it shows your organisation plays an active role in your employees wellbeing 7

10 The costs of lost productivity and overtime are reduced The cost of training new staff is reduced or eliminated. 8

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12 ACC1992 Printed October 2010 ISBN: