Help Your Clients Create a Win-Win Return-to-Work Program

Topics: Agent Resources Disability Benefits

For employees, returning to work after taking time off can be a hassle to navigate. And for employers, labor and other costs will be higher if employees don’t return to work in a timely way.

Guiding your clients through the return-to-work process planning is a great way for agents to help clients create a win-win program for employees and employers. A successful return-to-work (RTW) program can help make a difficult situation easier for employers, and position agents as a thought leader and business ally.

How to Build a Winning Return-To-Work Program

Set Expectations

Creating a policy that identifies expectations for the organization and employees is key to creating a RTW program that works to assist employees in returning to work from a disability leave when it is medically advisable.

Communicate Internally

Once the RTW policy is in place, employers should make sure all management team members understand why it’s beneficial to the bottom line, and how to implement it with employees. It’s also a good idea to share the policy with all personnel through internal e-mail, intranet, and/or newsletter.

Implement Consistently

When an employee becomes disabled, it’s time to follow the plan of action outlined within the RTW policy. Consistency in implementation will instill confidence both in the policy and the company for the ill or injured employee, so that they feel important to the company and cared for throughout their recovery.

Maintain Communication

Nothing promotes morale more than get well cards and letters from colleagues. Make sure that the injured or ill employee knows the whole team is rooting for them. Not only does this promote confidence in the employee on leave, but it also improves morale of colleagues who see they will be treated with kindness and respect should they experience a similar situation.

Keeping in touch throughout recovery allows the company to see the employee’s recovery process and progress. This will help the management team plan next steps for the employee’s return to work – whether it be putting the employee on light duty, a different job, or back to the original full-time position.

Resolve Claims

Once an employee is fully recovered and back at work, the policy holder should work with their agent to close the disability claim as quickly as possible. More open claims mean higher premiums. Closing claims in a timely manner means the company will pay the appropriate premium, and not an inflated one.

Return-To-Work Means the Return to Productivity

Sharing these tips with your clients can help them build a RTW program that benefits the business by keeping productivity and morale high and costs low—thus saving them money. By guiding your clients through the creation and implementation of a RTW policy, and helping them find the right Statutory Disabilities policy, you will make gains by promoting product sales and brand loyalty. And that is just good business.

 

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