After suffering an injury, workers of private companies affiliated with the Texas Workers’ Compensation System are subject to Return to Work Programs. In fact, they have a duty to know their responsibilities when these types of events occur. Here we share some of the most important things you need to know about these situations.
Return to work programs
These programs consist of adaptation plans or task changes designed by the employer to help the employee gradually ease back into work. The objective is that the injured employee can return to work (after having suffered a work injury) quickly and safely while recovering from their injuries.
After a workplace injury, who is responsible for returning an employee to their workspace?
Returning a worker to work is a shared responsibility among health care professionals, the injured employee, their employer, insurers, and the division of workers’ compensation.
For example, suppose the doctor determines that the employee is unable to perform some of his or her job duties because of the injury. In that case, the doctor must report this so the employer can find new jobs for the employee to perform.
If the case arises that the employer is unable to find a task that the employee can perform, the insurer must be notified with the intention of increasing the amount of money that the worker is receiving to compensate for the money lost due to the injury.
Why do these programs exist?
According to the worker’s compensation system, these programs can benefit the employer since they can efficiently help the company resolve an injured worker situation. They also benefit the worker, who, by returning to his work activities, has greater chances of a speedy recovery and can avoid the risk of diminishing his physical strength or work skills.
Also, with the return to work programs, workers can get partial temporary income benefits in case the employer assigns them a different job. Earnings may change if the position has been adjusted to the new circumstances after the employee was injured.
