The following are some of the reasons why a return-to-work program could benefit your business:
- Increase the likelihood of employees returning to work—Injured employees who remain off work longer than 6 months have only a 50% likelihood of ever returning to their job. That likelihood decreases to less than 10% if time lost exceeds one year.
- Injured employees return to work up to 50% sooner—In companies that have well-managed return-to-work programs including transitional duty, up to 90% of injured employees go back to work within four days of the injury.
- Reduce claims costs up to 70%—Not only are lost-time days reduced, but studies show medical costs are also reduced.
- Faster recovery period—Good return-to-work programs treat work as therapy to help the employee recover up to three times faster than if they stayed at home.
- Reduce award costs—The potential for an employee to become totally and permanently disabled is greatly decreased.
- Reduce contentious litigation—Employees are less likely to feel their rights have been violated causing them to engage a lawyer.
- Avoid hiring and training a replacement worker—Temporary labor can be expensive, especially when the new worker must be trained.
- Reduce fraud—Return-to-work programs demonstrate that getting injured doesn't necessarily mean getting paid for being out of work.
- Increase employee morale—Return-to-work programs are a testament that employees are a valuable company asset rather than a disposable resource.
- It's effective—More than 90 percent of employers using return-to-work programs say they are effective.
If you would like to learn more about a return-to-work program for your business, please contact Progressive Fleet at lossprevention@protectiveinsurance.com.