How To Safely Return to Work After an Injury
The National Safety Council reports that 75,000,000 work days were lost to disabling injuries in the US in 2022, not including the day of the injuries or time off for check-ups following the injured employees’ return to work.
Getting back to work after an injury can be a complicated process, requiring careful planning, clear communication, and strict adherence to medical instructions. Whether you’ve suffered your injury at work or somewhere else, any transition back to your job should be done gradually and safely.
Rushing back to work too soon can risk greater harm, prolonging recovery or even causing you to suffer new injuries. Knowing how to safely return to work after an injury can make all the difference between a speedy and smooth recovery and experiencing prolonged health problems.
Let’s look at some key steps and strategies that can help make sure that your return to work after an injury is done safely and mindfully.
Listen to Your Doctor’s Advice
The first and most important step is to always follow your doctor’s guidance. After you’ve been injured, your healthcare provider will determine when and how you should return to work. This advice will be based on your specific injury, your current physical condition, your expected rate of improvement, and what your job demands from you.
Your doctor may recommend a “phased return”, in which you start with lighter duties or fewer hours and then gradually work your way back up to your former responsibilities. This helps avoid worsening your injury and gives your body the time it needs to recover safely.
Ignoring your doctor’s recommendations or pushing yourself too hard can risk slowing your full recovery, or worse, causing additional or even permanent damage.
Always talk to your doctor about any concerns or difficulties you have with following their recovery plan.
If some job duties are too painful or strenuous for you, let your healthcare provider know, as they may be able to adjust your plan to ensure your return to work is safe.
Communicate with Your Employer
Clear and open communication with your employer is essential after returning to work. Once your doctor has a recovery plan completed for you, be sure to share it with your employer.
Many employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for injured employees under workers’ compensation laws or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These accommodations might include adjusting your work hours, modifying your duties, or even providing special equipment to help you perform your tasks safely.
Your employer or HR department will likely have their own established processes for handling workplace injuries, including return-to-work plans that fit your specific job and situation. Maintain frequent and regular communication with your supervisor or human resources department regarding your progress and any limitations you’re experiencing. This is crucial for a successful return to work.
Clear communication also helps keep expectations realistic for both you and your employer, ensuring a safer, more productive work environment as you transition back into your job.
The Importance of Modified Duty
Modified duty or light-duty work is critically important to your safe return to work after an injury.
If your healthcare provider decides that you’re not yet ready to return to your full job duties, they may recommend a return to modified duties. These duties may be less physically demanding and designed to accommodate what you’re able to currently handle.
It can be frustrating to take on a different role or a modified workload, even temporarily, but the goal is to help you transition back to your regular work without overexerting or reinjuring yourself. You may be assigned tasks that involve less physical strain, fewer hours, or even administrative duties so that you can work without exacerbating your injuries.
Another key to successful modified duty is patience. You may feel discouraged that you can handle your usual responsibilities but try to keep in mind that it’s just a temporary restriction to help you rebuild your strength and stamina while still keeping a connection to your work.
As time passes, your doctor will continue to assess and determine your progress and will allow you to return to your full job duties when it’s safe for you to do so.
If you’re returning to work with a PPD (permanent partial disability), you may want to explore vocational rehabilitation options and seek required accommodations as needed.
Listen to Your Body
When you return to your job following an injury, you need to remain attuned to how your body feels.
Pain and fatigue are both signals that your body might not be ready for certain tasks yet. Ignoring these signs can slow your recovery or even lead to further injury.
If you experience pain or discomfort while working, be sure to inform your supervisor and your doctor immediately. Your healthcare provider will likely need to modify your treatment plan or recommend new accommodations to prevent pain or re-injury.
Being mindful of your body’s signals simply means that you should work within your reasonable physical limits and give your body the time it needs to fully recover. Paying attention to your body and avoiding overexertion helps to ensure a safer and more effective transition back to your regular work.
Know Your Rights
If your injury or illness occurred at work, you’re likely covered under workers’ compensation, which provides medical benefits, wage replacement, and other support while you recover. Workers’ compensation laws are state-specific and are designed to help you return to work safely. They also offer protections and guidelines for how employers should work with injured employees.
It’s crucial that you understand your rights under workers’ compensation.
Your employer can’t terminate your employment due to your injury, and they have to make reasonable accommodations to help you return to and perform your work duties. Workers’ compensation benefits often cover medical treatments, rehabilitation, and lost wage replacement to make sure that you’re getting the care you need while recovering.
If you feel that your employer is not providing appropriate accommodations, your rights are being ignored, or your benefits are being mishandled, it may be necessary to consult with a personal injury lawyer (one specializing in worker’s compensation) to protect your rights and make sure that you’re getting the support needed to recover fully.
At Belsky & Horowitz, LLC, we firmly believe that your health and safety should always be the top priority for everyone involved when you’re returning to work after an injury. The road to recovery may be gradual, and even painful at times, but by taking the right steps, you can protect your long-term health and your career.
Returning to work after an injury doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right planning, patience, and support, you can rebuild your strength and return to your work safely when the time is right.
