Many workers who have been injured on their job hope to return to work as soon as their health permits it. Unfortunately, some serious injuries don’t allow people to go back to their jobs. This post details a few tips for returning to work after compensation for injury at the workplace.
Keep in Touch With Your Employer
If you plan on going back to your place of work, it is a good idea to keep informing your employer on how your health is progressing. Keep your supervisor informed regarding your medical situation as well, including what the doctor is saying about your injury, and when you may return to your job. By keeping the communication lines open with your employer, it helps them to prepare for your return to work.
Do Not Return to Work Before You’re Ready
Do not return to work if your doctor has not cleared you to do so. Your recovery process may be hindered, or you might get re-injured if you return too soon. The doctor may require you to return to work with some medical restrictions for you to achieve full recovery.
What Are Work Restrictions?
Work restrictions are given by your doctor, and indicate the difference between the kind of work you can do during recovery and what you used to work on before the injury. Work restrictions are not always permanent.
For instance, there are those restrictions that are given to you after a surgery, and will be lifted gradually on your way to full recovery. Depending on the nature of your injury, there are restrictions that require you to observe for the whole of your working life. Serious injuries may paralyze you and you may not be able to work again. In such a case, you can check if you qualify for the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) to get financial help. Examples of work restrictions are:
- Avoid lifting heavy objects
- Avoid squatting or kneeling
- Avoid uneven ground
Create a Return to Work Plan
Come up with a return to work plan or formula for you and the employer. This will allow you to be reintegrated back to work on an appropriate timeline. The plan should also include relevant colleagues. The plan should contain information stating that your employer understands the restrictions placed on you by the doctor. Your employer should also acknowledge that they will observe the restrictions to the best of their knowledge.
Have a Copy of The Work Restrictions With You At Work
It is a good idea to have a copy of the work restrictions with you at work. Ensure that you don’t perform any tasks beyond the restrictions because your full recovery can be affected.
Sometimes your employer or manager may ask you to do a task that you’ve been restricted from doing. A colleague may occasionally wonder why you are avoiding certain tasks. Having a copy of the work restrictions enables you to prove to your superiors and other workmates that you can not perform the duty.
Endnote
Returning to work after being injured on duty and getting compensated is not always an easy process. However, it is something that most workers look forward to depending on the nature of the injury, and how soon the recovery process is.
