It’s an unfortunate fact of life that accidents, injuries and illnesses sometimes occur at work. And when they do, they can leave employees with intricate and multifaceted challenges that not only affect their physical and mental health, but also their ability to work, their home life, their relationships and their sense of independence. It’s therefore vitally important that impacted employees are assisted to regain their physical and psychological wellbeing, as well as their independence and ability to work and earn an income. And it’s important that this be done as quickly as possible, as employee wellbeing should be at the centre of any modern workplace.
That’s where occupational rehabilitation comes in.
Occupational rehabilitation involves a wide range of support systems and interventions that are designed to assist people in their recovery from an injury or illness and enable them to return to work. Early intervention is essential for a speedy and effective recovery, and can help minimise negative outcomes and drastically increase the chances of a successful and sustainable outcome.
Benefits for the employee
Occupational rehabilitation will obviously benefit the injured or ill employee, as it helps them on the road to a successful return to work. It achieves many benefits for employees, including:
Personalised care and support
This is enormously helpful when recovering from an illness or injury, and results in a quicker and more thorough recovery. Access to healthcare professionals who specialise in the specific needs of an employee will provide enormous benefit to their recovery.
Quicker recovery
Occupational rehabilitation programs translate into a quicker recovery and thus reduced time away from work.
Mental wellbeing support
Workplace injuries don’t just affect an employee’s physical health, they also affect psychological and emotional wellbeing. Holistic rehabilitation will combine psychological support with physical recovery, and will reduce the risk of secondary mental health issues developing.
A smooth return to work
With the aid of occupational rehabilitation, injured workers can return to work quicker and with the confidence that they are able to continue to do their job.
Quicker return to independence
You never realise how much you value your independence until you don’t have it – and occupational rehabilitation can help employees regain that all-important independence much sooner than they otherwise would. Providing adaptive equipment and skill development training are a big part of this process.
Pain management
Occupational rehabilitation professionals will develop strategies to manage the pain associated with injuries or chronic conditions.
Safety modifications
A return to work may require safety modifications to ensure the employee can do their job effectively and safely – and occupational rehabilitation can advise on and provide these modifications.
Equipment training
Occupational rehabilitation professionals can also train employees on any modified equipment they will need to use, or help them create strategies to safely use current equipment in the workplace.
Preventative measures
Identifying potential risks for an injured employee returning to the workplace is an essential task for occupational rehabilitation, as well as implementing proactive measures to minimise or eliminate these risks. This can lead to safer and more efficient operations, and fewer injuries in the future.
Benefits for the workplace
But occupational rehabilitation doesn’t just benefit the injured worker. It also has enormous and far-reaching benefits for the workplace:
Reducing long-term costs
Occupational rehabilitation programs translate into reduced costs, such as worker’s compensation costs, extended treatment costs and prolonged absences.
Minimising productivity losses
By providing support and necessary adjustments, occupational rehabilitation services can reduce instances of long-term leave and help maintain a productive workforce.
Enhancing morale in the workplace
A positive workplace culture is essential for employee satisfaction and productivity, and occupational rehabilitation services go a long way towards demonstrating an employer’s commitment to employee wellbeing. Rehabilitation strategies can help improve the overall morale and culture of an organisation.
Retaining staff
Losing skilled and experienced staff can be very costly and disruptive to operations. Occupational rehabilitation helps employees retain valuable staff and maintain the knowledge and expertise that is important to their business.
The alternative – going it alone
The alternative to employing occupational rehabilitation services is going it alone – and there’s plenty of reasons why this is not a good idea. Employers may try this path in order to save money, but, as mentioned above, occupational rehabilitation will end up saving employers much more than it costs them.
If you don’t use occupational rehabilitation after a work-related injury, the injured employee may experience:
· A longer recovery time
· Increased risk of long-term disability
· Potential loss of income due to time off work
· Reduced chance of returning to their job
· Reduced employment prospects, with difficulty finding suitable alternative employment
· A greater risk of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety and feelings of isolation
As well, the employer may need to deal with:
- Loss of key staff as they recover
- Extra costs to employ cover for injured staff
- Productivity losses
- Greater long-term costs for treatments and worker’s compensation
- Greater absenteeism
- Penalties for not providing reasonable support for rehabilitation
- Lower workplace morale
Clearly, avoiding occupational rehabilitation just isn’t worth it. The benefits of it are so great, and the cost of refusing to participate are so high, that it’s legitimately a no-brainer. Ill or injured workers need access to appropriate rehabilitation, and employees need to facilitate that access. Employers who invest in the wellbeing of their workforce in this way will fulfill their ethical duty, and what’s more, will also enhance the success of their business. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Here at Strive Occupational Rehabilitation, we can help you with all of this. Get in contact here for all your Brisbane, Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns and Gold Coast occupational rehabilitation needs: