Return to Work

A practical return to work program is one of the most effective ways to reduce both the human and financial costs of injuries.

Today's employers promote a workplace culture that supports safe and timely return to work by offering modified duties, schedules and environmental conditions to meet the temporary or permanent needs of injured workers.

Return to Work Program Development
Return to Work Sample Documents
Return to Work Program Evaluation
Return to Work Education and Certification
Duty to Accommodate (Reasonable Accommodation)
Re-employment Obligations
Additional Return to Work Resources

Return to Work Program Development

• This pamphlet and slides 29-37 of this presentation provide information about starting a return to work program for your workplace.
  
  
• For information about consultants specializing in disability and risk management, refer to this resource guide.
  
  
• Section Two  of the Disability Prevention and Management Guidelines for Health Care  contains practical guidance in setting up a return to work program and examples to assist you. Though the guide was written for healthcare, it is applicable to all industries.
  
  
• Review this guide if you want to proactively manage situations where injured workers are unable to perform their jobs. This guide was developed through a grant from the WCB's Community Initiatives and Research Program .
  
  
• Review this resource guide and toolkit for small business operators who require information and tools to help prevent, prepare for and deal with injuries, illnesses or disabilities. These resources were developed by Reaching E-Quality Employment Services.
  
  
• For help establishing a joint workplace disability management program, you may wish to purchase this manual from the National Institute of Disability Management and Research.
  
  

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Return to Work Sample Documents

Developed by Employers:

• This physical capabilities analysis form was developed by the SAFE Group, comprised of employees from eight companies in South Central Manitoba, who administer safety and health initiatives for more than 1,600 employees combined.

Developed through Grants from the WCB's Community Initiatives and Research Program:

• The Team Employee Ability Management Strategy program guide provides employers, employees and unions of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority with concrete, user friendly processes to proactively case manage situations where employees are unable to perform their full occupational duties as a result of injury or illness, regardless of the cause. You may find the following excerpts from this guide useful:
  
  
  • functional capability form
  • physical demand description for job analysis
  • release of medical information (permission for healthcare providers to share relevant medical information with employers)
  • consent to share relevant medical information with others (permission for employers to share medical information with third parties)
  • return to work letter
  • dispute resolution guide for return to work situations
    
    

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Return to Work Program Evaluation  

• Consider using the return to work program audit tool if your company is looking to evaluate its return to work program or plans.
  
  
• To participate in the National Disability & Resource Management Inc.'s study into the delivery of return to work programs, review this summary of the research project supported by a grant from the WCB's Community Initiatives and Research Program.  
  

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Return to Work Education and Certification

• Visit the National Institute of Disability Management and Research for a comprehensive listing of disability management education programs and online training to assist you in your return to work duties.
  
  
• If you have years of experience in the areas of disability management and/or return to work and would like to obtain professional certification, consider this option also offered by the National Institute of Disability Management and Research. 

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Duty to Accommodate (Reasonable Accommodation)

• For information on the duty to accommodate (reasonable accommodation), the Manitoba Human Rights Commission has workplace guidelines and a checklist available for employers. Information is also provided on how to respond to a request for reasonable accommodation and the factors used by the Commission to determine whether reasonable accommodation of an individual’s disability has occurred.
  

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Re-employment Obligations

• If you would like more information about obligations to re-employ injured workers, review this article, brochure, legislation,  policy and regulation. This policy replaces Policy 43.20.20 , Modified or Alternate Work Return to Work with the Accident Employer, for accidents occurring on or after January 1, 2007.
  
  
• If your worksite would like a presentation on the new re-employment obligations, contact Kim Keating, Return to Work Coordinator at 954-4845 or 1-800-363-3340 extension 4845.
  

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Additional Return to Work Resources

• For PowerPoint presentations used in recent seminars about disability management, visit the SAFE Manitoba site.
  
  
• For courses on injury prevention and other workplace safety topics, view this calendar on the SAFE Manitoba site.
  
  

• For information on preventing and accommodating injuries through cost-effective ergonomic modifications, review this summary of 32 case studies. A workplace ergonomics resource guide for small business is also available.
  
  

• Examine these case studies from the Disability Prevention and Management Guidelines for Health Care if you need assistance helping an injured worker return to work.
  
  

• If one of your workers has a back injury, what he/she does about back pain is very important. This booklet has been prepared to show an injured worker how to care for his/her back during recovery.

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