The relationship and communication between employers and their workers is at the heart of effective return-to-work programs, the National Council on Compensation Insurance said in a report released Thursday.
Boca Raton, Fla.-based NCCI surveyed employers in three business sectors — health care, education and construction — to gauge return-to-work best practices. The report is the second in a series on the subject; in April, NCCI released a report on insurers’ perspectives on return to work, finding that collaboration between stakeholders is similarly key.
Other commonalities include that “management commitment must be fundamental to the employer’s culture”
; and that “the communication of this commitment builds trust between employees and management,” according to Thursday’s report.NCCI also found that it is key to set clear expectations both before and after an injury occurs and that it is also important to educate medical providers about work injuries and return to work.
It is also beneficial to have a single point of contact at the employer to coordinate the return-to-work program for the injured worker, caregivers, and insurers. The employer should also create and maintain an inventory of light duties or transitional duties, according to the report.
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