Rehabilitation providers are often engaged for more complex cases or when the organisation doesn’t have the ability or resources. They are generally appropriate when the injury is recent, recurrent, severe, chronic or psychological. They can also be useful where there is conflict in the workplace – often this conflict occurs between employees and managers.

The role requires a careful balancing of the competing interests involved. The employer has a set of objectives, and the employee may be struggling with their reduced capacity within the workplace structure.

Once the barriers to successful return to work have been identified, they need to be communicated and where possible removed. Obviously, in order for this to occur, conversations need to take place with the key people involved in RTW in the organisation. Most importantly, these people need to include management.

To do this effectively, it’s vital for rehabilitation coordinators to have an understanding of the culture of the industry, and an understanding of what the employer does. 

Rehab providers

• Communicate with key people in RTW
• Identify barriers
• Learn what the employer does and about the culture of the industry
• Provide managers with evidence-based decision-making.
• As someone external to the company, it can be easier to raise difficult topics.
• Suggest staff training needed, particularly supervisors.
• Have a genuine commitment to working with both the employer and employee.
• Be open and honest.
• Be unbiased but realistic.
• Encourage the valuing of employees.
• Provide measurable results.
• Juggling the competing interests to achieve harmony and a positive result.
• Expression of the value of bring back the person to work – the financial impact.
• Encouragement to deal with underlying issues – emphasising the financial impact.
• Develop strong communication methods – meetings, emails, phone call, as appropriate.

Employers

• Listen to your instincts – if things are out of control, rehab providers can help get things back on track. It’s even better to engage rehabilitation providers before things get out of control.
• Consider signing on to a service level agreement (services offered and agreed outcome)
• Communicate clearly and openly.
• Don’t look to rehabilitation providers when looking for a scapegoat.
• Understand give & take.
• Reciprocity
• Review programs and policies.
• Voice support for collaborative approaches to RTW.