April 2017 Newsletter for our InSource Clients

25 April 2017 , Ryan Tinker

April 2017 Newsletter for our InSource Clients

The following are excerpts taken from a recent Concentra article. I thought it was a good reminder to all of us.

What Your Employees need to know about worker comp

You know your business. You follow the regulations, stay up-to-date on the latest industry news, and ensure that your employees are provided with a great working environment. If an accident happens and an employee gets hurt, you know what to do…but does the employee?

Workers’ compensation can be a touchy subject, especially when potential litigation is on the line. But closing the line of communication beyond the required “know your rights” poster can be harmful to the employer-employee relationship. If an employee gets injured on the job and they aren’t sure what to do, they might be more likely to turn to a lawyer instead of you.

Open the conversation about workers’ compensation before an injury occurs by educating your workforce on safety, workers’ compensation procedures, and how you’ll support them during the process.

Develop an Effective Safety Training Program

When educating employees about workers’ compensation, the first and most essential step is teaching them how to prevent work-related injuries. This can be done through regular, comprehensive safety training.

Safety training should start in the onboarding process with new employees, then continue as equipment and processes change. No matter how long an employee has been working in your company, or how senior their position is, safety training is never a waste of time. It can only benefit the workforce and maintain accountability.

Rather than just handing employees a safety manual and hoping for the best, take some time to walk through important steps, provide demonstrations with equipment, machinery, and protective gear, and answer any questions. Then include an assessment, as formal or informal as you want, to ensure that workers can complete their jobs correctly and safely. Temporary staffing companies should develop an understanding with their clients on effective training for the temporary worker.

Procedure for a Work-Related Injury

No matter how well-trained your workforce is, accidents can still happen. Even though workplace injuries aren’t a pleasant topic for discussion, employees will feel more comfortable if they’re prepared when an accident occurs.

During safety training, employees should be educated on what steps to take if they get injured when working. Walk them through the process and procedures.

When you openly communicate about workers’ compensation, your employees know to follow the steps that have been explained rather than file a lawsuit. Let employees know that you’re on their side and only desire to keep them safe.

What to Expect from the Employer During Workers’ Compensation

The role of an employer, manager, or supervisor in the workers’ compensation process shouldn’t end after paying the claim. When you’re involved in an injured employee’s return-towork plan, it helps ease any fears or obstacles that might impede their recovery.

Let employees know not only what they need to do when they’re injured, but how you’ll be involved as well. Make sure your workforce understands that they won’t be alone in the workers’ compensation process, and that you’ll be actively helping with their case and treatment. Again, this open communication helps develop a trust between employee and employer rather than an us-vs-them mentality.

As the employer, you help coordinate the return-to-work plan with the adjuster, the physician, and the employee. You know your business, so you can share any helpful details about the employee’s role (and how it can be adapted), the work environment and expectations, and what support is available for employees returning to work. When the injured employee returns, you need to ensure that the agreed upon plan is followed through.

If your employees know what to expect from you in the workers’ compensation process, they know when to turn to you, and you know your responsibilities in the process.

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