The term “Return To Work” has been part of the workers compensation landscape for many years since the introduction of the Workers Compensation Act 1987 (NSW). However, some additional terminology focused on assisting injured workers to “Recover At Work” has recently been discussed in workers compensation circles.
In addition to promoting the positive benefits of work and the obvious financial benefits of returning injured workers back to their pre-injury role as soon as possible post injury, WorkCover NSW has a number of additional incentives to assist NSW Employers in assisting injured workers to “Recover At Work”. Some of these include:
1) Employer Safety Incentive Discount – a 10% discount is available on a “small employer’s” premium where the employer is encouraged to use the discount to invest in workplace safety. If the employer has a workers compensation claim and the worker does not return to suitable work within 4 weeks of the injury date, the 10% discount is lost and may need to be repaid.
2) Return To Work Incentive Discount – If the “small employer” loses their Employer Safety Incentive Discount, they may still be eligible for a 10% discount on their basic tariff premium if the injured worker has returned to suitable employment within 13 weeks (with no further weekly compensation payments being made).
In addition to the two financial incentives above, NSW Employers can also access vocational rehabilitation schemes to assist injured workers Recover At Work. These include:
- Return To Work Assist Program for “Micro Employers” – This program involves the assistance of a Workplace Rehabilitation Provider to identify suitable work at the workplace, develop a Recover At Work Program, while the insurer continues to pay the injured worker. This financial assistance allows the employer to avoid paying “twice” as they accommodate a worker on suitable work but still need to employ another worker to carry out the majority of the injured worker’s pre-injury duties.
- Equipment & Workplace Modification Program – employers and injured workers can be assisted in the purchase of specific equipment which is required to allow the worker to Recover At Work. Although restrictions apply, this program is useful to overcome some injury specific barriers which certain equipment can overcome.
- Worktrial – A worktrial in basic terms is like work experience but completed at another workplace other than the worker’s pre-injury workplace. Worktrials are typically completed for up to 12 weeks and allow injured workers to upgrade their work fitness and/or obtain new skills which are useful for their return to work at their pre-injury employer.
Key Definitions: There are restrictions on some of these programs and to access such programs your employer (must be based in NSW) may need to meet one of the following definitions:
- Small employer = Employers in NSW with a Basic Tariff Premium of $30000 or less
- Micro Employer – Employers in NSW with five or less staff with a Basic Tariff Premium of $30000 or less
For more information on any of these programs please visit WorkCover NSW’s website (www.workcover.nsw.gov.au) or call 131050. Alternatively contact myself (see About page) and I would be happy to discuss the benefits of these programs for your organisation.