Recovery at work

Key takeaways

Recovery at work

Evidence-based benefits of return to work

The importance of recovery at work

Recovery at work

Time off work can lead to poor mental health, negative social and financial consequences and long-term health issues.

Recovering at work also provides an opportunity to connect with people and feel like part of a community. It's important to collaborate with your employer, treating parties, rehabilitation consultant and claims service provider (CSP) for recovery at work. 

Evidence-based benefits of return to work

• Returning to work is an important part of rehabilitation, you don't have to be 100 per cent fit before returning (Kosny A, Franche RL, Pole J, Krause N, Côté P, Mustard C. 2006).
• The longer a worker is off work, the less chance they have of returning*.
• Returning to work is a therapeutic intervention, it is a vital part of treatment*.
• Staying away from work may lead to depression, isolation and poorer physical and mental health *(The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2011).

Taking the first steps to return to work can be difficult, it's important to discuss return to work with your nominated treating doctor (NTD) and wider treatment team. You could discuss what's stopping you from going back to work and your expectations of return to work. This will help your treatment team understand what support you need in order to return to work.

You should discuss your safe and durable return to work with your doctor and discuss alternative duties in line with your medical capacity, if you're unable to return to normal duties.

Taking the first steps to think about returning to work can be difficult, it's important that you regularly communicate with your treatment team along the way.

It's important to discuss with your treatment team what is stopping you from returning to work for them to understand how to support you. In addition, you can also discuss your safe and durable return to work with your NTD and discuss alternative duties in line with your medical capacity, if you are unable to return to normal duties.

References:
[1] Kosny A, Franche RL, Pole J, Krause N, Côté P, Mustard C. Early healthcare provider communication with patients and their workplace following a lost-time claim for an occupational musculoskeletal injury. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 2006. 16(1):27-39.
[2] The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Med. Realising the Health Benefits of Work. The Australasian Faculty of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 2011. 

The importance of recovery at work

Helping the worker to return back to work following a workplace injury is a team effort, involving the worker, their treatment providers, their claims service provider, rehabilitation provider (if one is involved) and yourself as the employer.

Returning safely to work is an important part of the workers recovery. The earlier the worker can commence the return-to-work process, the more successful it is likely to be.

There are many known benefits of an early return to work, including:

• Work helps injured workers to stay active and is an important part of their recovery.
• Staying active helps to reduce pain.
• Being at work is an opportunity to connect with people and be part of a community.
• Working provides financial security.
• Taking a long-time off work is worse for the injured worker socially, emotionally and physically.
• Research shows that work promotes recovery and reduces the risk of long-term disability and work loss.
• The longer they are away from work, the harder it can be to get back to work.

There is strong evidence demonstrating that recovery at work and return to the work environment completing appropriate suitable duties can assist a worker in their recovery and prevent any secondary complications associated with time away from the workplace.