WorkersCompensation.com's CompNewsNetwork: How to Write a Letter to Get An Employee Back to Work from Workers Compensation Injury

How to Write a Letter to Get An Employee Back to Work from Workers Compensation
Injury
================================================================================
Republished with permission from ReduceYourWorkersComp.com on 02 September, 2009 10:04:31
 
How to Get Your Employee to Turn In the Work Ability Form (WAF). You may call it
an Injury Form or Medical Treatment Form, or some other name.
The work ability form  is the best method to get your injured employee back
to work. Studies show  the sooner an employee returns, the smoother your
workers' compensation procedures run. This is true for both the employee and
the employer.
Transitional duties  take into account an injured employee's limited or
changed abilities is a way to get them back on the job and performing some of
their former functions.
It is better  to have the worker at your worksite even at lowered production
or capabilities than at home recuperating to 100 percent, a feat which may
never happen.
Workers' Comp Kit  suggests a formal letter explaining your transitional duty
policy to the employee and introducing the work ability form (WAF) to be filled
out by the physician.
Here are some tips for your letter:
1. Send it  priority mail via the United State Postal Service with delivery
confirmation.
2. Explain  what transitional duty is and it is a company policy.
3. Let the employee  know the transitional job will be reviewed each week as
during recuperation.
4. Enclose  the work ability form and explain the employee is required to have
the medical provider fill it out.
5. Encourage  your employee to let the provider know ALL restrictions can be
accommodated by your facility.
6. Let the employee  know the form is due back within seven calendar days and
the transitional duty job begins on the day the form is returned.
7. Let the employee  know the form is due back within seven calendar days and
the transitional duty job begins on the day the form is returned.
8. Assure them  the company health director will work with them to develop
tasks appropriate to their current medical condition and state.
(workersxzcompxzkit)
9. Be sure to  include claim number and all relevant addresses and contact
information on the letter.
 
It can be  easy to treat injuries with suspicion, but this is generally not a
good policy. Professionalism is key. In general, most recuperating employees
feel better if they can maintain a sense of their normal schedule and feel as
though they are still contributing at work.
Author:  Robert Elliott, J.D.
WC IQ Test: http://www.workerscompkit.com/intro/
WC Calculator: www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/calculator.php
Follow Us On Twitter: www.twitter.com/WorkersCompKit
Do not use this information without independent verification.
All state laws vary. Contact your workers comp insurance broker or TPA for
assistance.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International
Copyright Law. If you would like permission to reprint this material, contact
Info@WorkersCompKit.com