Identification of suitable duties
Injured employees who are given suitable duties upon return to work, are more likely to report a durable return to work.
Suitable duties means duties which are appropriate to the employee's capacities, skills and experience and in consideration of medical limitations. Providing suitable duties may involve modification to duties, alternative duties or modified hours while on a return to work plan.
Return to work hierarchy
When considering suitable duties the following sequence of return to work possibilities should be considered:
- Same job/same employer
- Similar job/same employer
- New job/same employer
- Same job/new employer
- Similar job/new employer
- New job/new employer
Within the work group
Ideally, the injured employee will return to the same work group to undertake duties within his/her capacity, in line with the treating practitioner’s advice regarding abilities and restrictions.
To do this, alternative or modified duties may need to be arranged.
Within the organisation
Where the injured employee is unable to return to pre-injury duties there may be opportunity for suitable duties to be provided elsewhere in the organisation. Internal placement may be on a temporary basis to return the worker quickly and safely.
Where it seems likely that the employee will not be able to return to his/her pre-injury duties, internal redoployment may be permanent.
Work trials
Case managers may negotiate a work trial in another agency or in alternative employment where suitable duties are not available within the organisation.
Agencies may arrange for injured employees on work trials to continue to be paid by the original agency, pending permanent placement.
Redeployment
Redeployment to a new employer occurs when the injured employee is permanently medically unable to return to work with their pre-injury (or same) employer.
A statement of your agency's policy regarding inter-agency redeployment provides a powerful message to staff of management's commitment to rehabilitation and enables case managers to have a wider range of options to find suitable employment for injured employees.