Winter 2006

Your Role in the Return-to-Work Process
By David Wylie

When Texas Mutual Insurance Company receives an injury report, its new return-to-work team uses proven techniques to help the injured worker get back on the job. For the process to be successful, however, employers must play an active role. Here are some tips you can use to help your injured workers return as productive members of your workforce.

Identify modified duties
Find alternative, productive work the injured employee can do if he or she cannot return to full duty immediately. For best results, identify modified duties before an injury happens.

Work with the doctor
Send the treating doctor a written description of the injured worker’s normal job duties. Make it clear that you will not ask the injured worker to do anything the doctor restricts him or her from doing. The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) created DWC Form-73, Work Status Report to help doctors explain injured workers’ restrictions to employers. The form is available on the forms page in the Employers section of our website.

Communicate with the injured worker
Communication drives the return-to-work process. A simple phone call to ask how the injured worker is doing shows that you care about his or her recovery. If you think the injured worker needs extra help returning to work, call the adjuster assigned to the claim.

Make a bona fide offer of employment
When the doctor releases the employee to return to full or modified duty, make a bona fide offer of employment. Bona fide offers of employment must meet the requirements in DWC Rule 129.6. To read the rule, click here.

Educate employees
Some employees may be upset that injured workers receive full pay for performing “light” duty. Help them understand that employees who work with job modifications return to full duty sooner, which reduces the added duties other employees carry to cover for injured employees. Teach them that experienced employees doing most of the job will benefit everyone more than new employees doing the entire job with no experience.

Get more information
Go to the Safety & Return-to-Work section on our website to download a free Return-to-Work Kit. The kit includes more information on each step in the return-to-work process, plus a sample bona fide offer of employment letter. You can also visit the online safety resource center for free material.

COMPNEWS - Winter 2006
Bird Flu: What it Means to Your Business
Personal Tips for Weathering a Flu Pandemic
New Claim Teams Help Cut Costs
Your Role in the Return-to-Work Process
President's Message: Fifteen Years of Service to Texas
Fraud-Fighting Corner
State increases fixed payroll, weekly benefit rates
Learn more about the workers’ comp system
Legislature gets set to kick off 2007 session

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