I cannot over emphasize the importance of getting an employee back to work as soon as possible.  If your company has a policy of “full duty capability or nothing”, your Workers Compensation claims cost will be 300% higher than those companies that provide modified work!  But that is just one of the many benefits of having an early return-to-work policy.

Why should an Employer be interested in a light duty/return to work? Here are some benefits to the Employer:

•  Retains valuable employees, improves employee morale & demonstrates employees are a valuable asset to the company.
• Injured worker is less likely to hire an attorney increasing expenses for everyone.
• Reduces disability claims cost impacting future premium rates.
• Reduces medical cost.
• Encourages faster recuperation returning employee to full production more quickly.
• Reduces potential for workers’ compensation malingering & fraud.

If your company simply cannot accommodate a less than 100% worker, InSource can assist you by providing temporary transitional employment for the worker.  We utilize companies that contract with non-profit agencies that appreciate the additional assistance while the worker continues to recover from an injury.
The benefits to the injured worker include:

• Stays productive and avoids disability syndrome.
• Faster recovery.
• Encourages meaningful & productive work activity.
• Focuses on abilities rather than limitations.
• Stress, boredom & depression are reduced or eliminated.
• Develops physical tolerance for work, including strength & endurance.
• Help others/sense of community.

Whether you provide modified duty work or utilize a third-party agency to provide light duty, the injured worker remains on your payroll.  You can pay the full hourly wage or reduce the wages to minimum wage or somewhere in between.  If you pay less than full wage, the adjuster will “true up” through a partial wage replacement.

Providing early return-to-work is a requirement under the InSource or Business Insurers of GA agreement.  The reasons are obvious in that you depend on InSource to help you with policies to reduce your overall cost of workers’ compensation.  Return-to-work is the number one way to reduce this cost and this is why we strongly emphasize its implementation.