Return to Work FAQs for Employers

It’s never easy for companies to handle a situation in which an employee got hurt on the job.

There are a lot of hurdles to jump over and questions to be asked before someone can return to work after an injury. Obviously, having a return to work template form can help to simplify things as much as possible. But to clear things up even further, we wanted to answer some frequently asked questions that employers tend to have as it relates to workers coming back to work after getting injured.

Why Are Return to Work Forms Important?

Having a return to work form is a great way to have documentation of someone’s injury and situation. The form should have information about their accident, their injury, the medical treatment they received, and any other information that’s pertinent to their return. It should include how the accident might impact their ability to perform their job duties and any limitations they might have. It’s important for employers to have this information on record so that there is no confusion about how the injury impacted an employee and what they can or can’t do moving forward. 

Why Should Employers Provide Return to Work Form?

Employers should provide a return to work form so that they can dictate what information is being provided. They don’t want to rely on employees to share the information they want to share. Rather, employers should ask the questions they need to know in order to learn about an employee’s limitations and accommodations that need to be made. Equally important, they need to have all the necessary information to know with certainty that an employee is ready to return after their injury.

Are There Compliance Issues with Employees Returning to Work?

In most locations, there is nothing that requires employers to ask employees to complete a return to work form. This isn’t an official document that relates to compliance matters. However, it’s still a good idea for employers to ask workers who have been hurt on the job to fill out this form. As mentioned, it will provide the employer with information that will help the employee’s return to work go as smoothly as possible.

What Factors Are Considered About Employees Returning to Work?

For the most part, an employee’s ability to perform their job will be evaluated before they return to work after an injury. This can include both their physical readiness and their mental state of mind. Employees need to be both physically and mentally prepared to do their job after an injury before an employer should feel comfortable welcoming them back to work.

When Should You Speak with Employees About Returning to Work?

Ideally, employers should stay in touch with employees who are unavailable to work because of an injury. This is the best way to learn about their recovery and create a timeline for their return. By staying in touch, it’s possible to learn more about their readiness and willingness to return to work. Of course, there should always be a formal discussion with an employee before they return to work.

What Happens After an Employee Returns to Work?

After someone returns to work following an injury, communication between worker and employer should continue. Someone may think that they’re ready to return to work, but they won’t know for sure until they start working again. The first few days after someone returns, it’s good to check in to make sure everything is going according to plan.

How Can Employers Stop Accidents Before They Happen?

Obviously, preventing employees from getting hurt in workplace accidents is the best thing a company can do. To help make that happen, EHS Insight offers safety management software that can help reduce the frequency of accidents. Our software helps companies to monitor every element of workplace health and safety on one platform, making it easier to stay ahead of all safety concerns and keep employees safe.

If you want to reduce workplace accidents and injuries, let’s have a conversation about how our software can help make that happen.