The primary purpose of a Return to Work (RTW) program is to enable eligible employees to return to the work force as soon as they are medically able. Experience shows that injured workers recover faster when they return to work. The longer an injured worker remains away from work, the more difficult it is to return. Returning to regular work usually occurs more quickly when modified duty is offered to the injured employee. An RTW program increases employee satisfaction and enhances the recovery process of employees who sustain an illness/injury while maximizing productivity and controlling indemnity costs. It is also beneficial for the employee’s physical and psychological well-being.
CIRA developed the following resources to assist members in managing their RTW programs, including: the Best Practices Policy Template as well as the bank of transitional work assignments and library of job descriptions, including essential functions, which are provided in the member dashboard.
