Workers who consider their employer’s response to injury to be fair and constructive are considerably more likely to return to work than those who don’t. Improving workplace management of work injuries offers significant opportunities to enhance worker wellbeing and workplace productivity. A positive psychosocial workplace environment is associated with earlier return to work.
Key figures involved in workplace injury management are the injured worker, their supervisor, the RTW coordinator, and – through their influence on workplace culture and priority setting – senior management.
- RTW coordinators need more comprehensive training/skill development to have low stress encounters with workers.
- Senior managers who are engaged receive reports about injuries and their management are more influential.
- Supervisors in need comprehensive training programs to be more confident in managing work injury in their teams.
Action areas for employers include:
- Deliver appropriate resources and skills training for all parties above
- Minimising adversarial approaches and improving injury management practices
- Promoting good work design and effecting proactive, inclusive prevention strategies
- Gaining the support and buy in of senior management to effect change/show care
- Reducing psychological hazards at work and addressing workplace culture
- Working with their insurer to use claims data available and advice provided.