{"id":7327,"date":"2020-08-31T01:47:36","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T06:47:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/?p=7327"},"modified":"2022-03-25T11:20:41","modified_gmt":"2022-03-25T16:20:41","slug":"how-employers-can-help-workers-returning-to-work-post-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/how-employers-can-help-workers-returning-to-work-post-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"How Employers Can Help Workers Returning to Work Post-Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"When an employee has been in an accident and injured as a result, you may be aware that they will need to undergo a recovery process. However, as well as the physical impact of the injury, there are other ways that they can be affected by what\u2019s happened to them.<\/p>\n

As an employer, having an understanding of what your employee is going through and helping them make the transition back into work will help them feel settled. There is a business case for this too, as this is more likely to help get the employee\u2019s productivity levels up, boost morale, and demonstrate to others how supportive you are as an employer.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at some of the ways injured employees can be impacted, along with some ideas to help you reintroduce them back to the workplace.<\/p>\n

The Impact of the Injury<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After an accident, there is a certain amount of physical recovery that\u2019s required. The employee may need surgery, which involves some healing time, and they may need physiotherapy to help build strength and correct the damage that\u2019s been done.<\/p>\n

However, there are other ways that life can change for them, and knowing what these can be can help you to establish a plan for getting them back into work.<\/p>\n

First, it can damage their relationships. Perhaps they need to call upon friend and family to drive them to and from appointments. Or maybe they are experiencing trauma after the incident and their mood swings are affecting their partner.<\/p>\n

Also, being out of work can affect them financially. Even if you continue to pay sick pay, they could still have to find the funds to cover medical bills or pay for adapting their home to accommodate their needs. There are ways for them to seek financial help, however. For instance, if they were injured and it wasn\u2019t their fault, they might decide to pursue a no win no fee compensation claim<\/a> to seek damages for what happened to them.<\/p>\n

The mental fallout can also be intense. According to a recent survey by National Accident Helpline<\/a>, 35% of respondents experienced stress and 34% had anxiety. When added to any money worries, they might have, this can severely impact their wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Worries about Work <\/strong><\/h2>\n

To add to this, there is the prospect of returning to work<\/a>. Whether their job is manual or desk-based, the thought of easing back into their role can be daunting \u2013 especially if they had the accident in the workplace as this can cause feelings of anxiety and stress.<\/p>\n

According to the report, 57% of those injured when it wasn\u2019t their fault worried about losing their job. When they did return, almost two-thirds (60%) said they couldn\u2019t do certain tasks and 63% worried about their performance.<\/p>\n

As an employer, you may find these numbers concerning. You want your employee to return and to be able to do their job well. To do this you can:<\/p>\n