Safety & Risk Management

An effective Return-to-Work (RTW) program ensures quality medical care, reduces workers’ compensation costs, and returns injured employees to gainful employment.  

Your employees are your company’s greatest asset. Their skills, experience, and dedication drive your operations, fuel your growth, and shape your reputation. When an employee is absent for an extended time due to a work-related injury or illness, it affects your entire business. The lost productivity, increased insurance costs, and high turnover risk can quickly add up. While reducing and eliminating injuries and illnesses is essential for lowering workers’ compensation costs, establishing a formal Return-to-Work program before an accident happens is key to safeguarding your employees and your business, strengthening your workforce and your future. 


What Is a Return-to-Work Program? 

RTW programs are designed to facilitate the reintegration of injured employees back to productive work, restoring their earning capacity, building morale, and reducing their time off the job. With an effective Return-to-Work (RTW) program, employees who are temporarily unable to perform their regular job responsibilities due to a compensable work-related injury or illness are eligible for modified or alternative work duties.  While this may look different from employer to employer, depending on the nature of the business and the injury, the main goal is to help the injured employee get back to work – and to life.


Why Do Companies Need a Return-to-Work Program? 

Creating an RTW program enables injured and recovering employees to remain an active and vital part of the company, facilitating their return to work sooner. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 12,400 private industry injury and illness cases statewide in 2023, with at least 7,500 cases classified as severe. 


The Benefits to You and Your Employees 

A comprehensive RTW program is one of the most effective ways to control costs, retain talent, and protect your bottom line while ensuring employees can transition safely back to work. Let’s explore the benefits of developing an RTW program for your company.


Reducing Workers’ Compensation Costs 

The longer an injured employee remains out of work, the more your workers’ compensation expenses can escalate. Early and consistent communication with the injured employee supports a smoother, early return to work, reducing the potential for prolonged absences. 


Ensuring High-Quality Medical Care 

An effective RTW program creates a pathway for employees to stay physically and mentally engaged while ensuring they receive timely and appropriate care. It also enables them access to trusted medical providers of their choice.


Supporting Gainful Employment for Injured Workers 

Providing structured and modified work through an RTW program allows injured employees to stay gainfully employed and connected to their team, helping preserve their skills while supporting both their physical and mental well-being. Employees may return to work gradually, starting with reduced hours or modified duties and increasing their workload over time. Employers should be patient as the injured worker progresses through medical treatment and recovery. Before an employee can return to work through the RTW program, a release for modified duty must be medically certified by their treating physician. It is also important to clearly communicate the expectations of the modified or alternative work and the RTW policy to the employee. To ease the transition, employers can offer training and support to help employees update their skills and adjust to any changes in their responsibilities.


Improving Employee Retention and Loyalty 

When employees feel supported during their recovery, they are more likely to feel valued by their organization. Support during a vulnerable time can have a long-lasting impact on employee morale, engagement, and loyalty.


Establishing Your Return-To-Work Program 

Whether you are developing an RTW program for the first time, or are looking to improve your current program, these questions will help ensure you have the components for success: 

• Do you have a current safety and health policy in effect? 

• Do you have an established safety committee with members who represent all levels of employees within your company? 

• Are all functions of this committee defined and communicated clearly to management and employees? 

• Have you identified a local occupational medical clinic and contacted them regarding your RTW program? 

• Do you have a designated company representative responsible for coordinating RTW efforts? 

• Do you have a written RTW policy endorsed by upper management? 

• Does your policy emphasize high-quality medical treatment and a healthy but timely return to gainful employment? 

• Have you identified modified/light duty positions in advance? 

• Do you have an injury/accident report form to be completed by the employee? 

• Do you have supervisor and witness reports forms? 

 
About HEMIC Safety & Risk Management 

As a mutual insurance company, HEMIC’s mission is built on partnership. Our Safety & Risk Management Team is available to all policyholders as a policyholder benefit. We can assist with developing RTW programs, written safety programs, on-site inspections, training needs, and more.  

If you are a HEMIC policyholder that does not have a formal RTW program, HEMIC’s Safety & Risk Management consultants can assist you with developing a customized plan for your workforce.  

Contact Safety & Risk Management at safety@hemic.com or (808) 524-3642. 

Learn more about HEMIC’s Workers’ Compensation offerings.