Your obligations

Your obligations

How to meet these obligations

Your obligations

There is no need to wait until you feel 100% recovered to return to work. Actively participating in the return-to-work process can help your rehabilitation.

It's important to try to focus on what you can do rather than what you can't.

The earlier you start planning to return to work, the better your chances of getting back to work sooner. There are ways that your employer can support a different approach to return to work – that could look like reduced hours in your regular job or on modified or alternative duties.

You have responsibilities to:

• Make all reasonable efforts to return to work in suitable or pre-injury employment.
• Take reasonable steps to recover following your workplace injury.
• Participate in the development of your injury management and recovery plan and follow the actions set out in the plan.
• You must also make sure that your certificate of capacity is current (updated every 28 days) and your Case Manager has a copy (to ensure payments are made in a timely manner).

How to meet these obligations

• Keep in regular contact with your employer, case manager and rehabilitation provider (if involved). Discuss with them what you believe you can do at work or approaches that may help you get back to work sooner.
• Keep your employer, case manager and rehabilitation provider up to date with your progress. This could include phoning them to let them know how your treatment is going, or any advice you have been provided that can help you to get back to work.
• Provide your employer, case manager and rehabilitation provider with your certificate of capacity.
• Make every reasonable effort to get back to work – this includes timely responses to any suitable duties proposed by your employer.
• Attend any meetings arranged to discuss your return to work.
• You should also talk to your employer about what you can do at work and start planning for your recovery at work as early as possible.