How establishing a return-to-work program will reduce your workers comp costs.
While many business owners may be wary about instituting a return-to-work program, they do have the potential to lower workers compensation insurance costs when properly implemented and managed. To be truly effective, a return-to-work program needs to be part of a business’s larger loss management program. Here’s what you need to know about return-to-work programs and their ability to help you save on insurance.
Coordinated Loss Management Programs
As previously mentioned, a successful return-to-work program needs to be part of a larger coordinated loss management program. Such programs generally consist of the following:
- Immediate reporting and investigation of accidents
- Medical arrangement and treatment
- Return-to-work program
- Continued communication with injured employees
When all portions of a coordinated loss management program are in place, injured employees feel supported and are far less likely to sue. Additionally, having a well-managed plan ensures that the business does not make claim reporting mistakes or rush the recovery process. This, in turn, ensures that the business does not have to pay additional workers compensation costs.
Temporary Alternative Work
Businesses can experience the greatest savings when they offer injured employees the opportunity to return to the workplace to do alternative work while they undergo recovery. However, this return-to-work strategy relies on accurate and comprehensive medical reports on the employee’s physical state. If you do not have a good understanding of an employee’s current physical abilities, you risk assigning them tasks that are overly strenuous. This can lead to further injury and an even more expensive workers comp claim. But, if temporary alternative work is well-suited to the employee’s current capabilities, then you have the potential for major savings by avoiding a lost-time claim.
Here’s how a well-managed return-to-work program can help you save on your workers compensation insurance. Do you have further questions regarding return-to-work programs and your workers comp coverage? If so, then contact the experts at PMC insurance Group. We are ready to assist you with your commercial coverage needs today.
