As return to work coordinators your job can be made a lot harder or easier by what your supervisors do on the floor when managing the return to work of injured workers and/or notification of injuries. There are numerous issues which can impact on what role the supervisor plays in this process including: the size of the workplace, the level of roles within the workplace supporting WHS and RTW; whether the RTW Coordinator works part/full time; whether the business operations are 9am-5pm or work 24/7 rosters, etc. However, one thing that all RTW Coordinators should do is get in front of their supervisor group (or at least provide them with training/education) at least every 12 months (preferably every 6 months) to update them on key issues in workers comp and RTW. By doing this not only will you more likely have better return to work rates, but your job as a RTW Coordinator will be made a lot easier.

Suggested key topics you may wish to discuss with your supervisors every 6-12 months are included on the attached handout (link below). These are just my suggestions and you may have other items you wish to discuss within your workplace.

Another suggestion is to develop a "New Manager/Supervisor RTW/Injury Management Pack". Many supervisors/managers within workplaces graduate to such roles after being a worker on the shop floor and working their way "up the ranks". Often RTW and Injury Reporting is not the highest priority for such a new supervisor/manager and providing new managers with a "Welcome Pack" to RTW and Injury Reporting can again make your role as a RTW Coordinator/WHS Manager a lot easier in the long run. Again the topics listed in the below attachment can be used to create that "Welcome Pack".