Transitional Light Duty

Employers that provide transitional light duty options typically see better claims outcomes.

When an injured worker is at high-risk for delayed recovery, having a transitional job while they recover can make a difference in their ultimate return to health and productivity. When employers partner with us to provide transitional light duty roles, we see a significant improvement in the employee's likelihood to return to their original job. 


Time is the enemy in workers' compensation claims


The longer an injured worker is away from work, the less likely they are to return to their job. Once a disabled worker is off duty for 12 weeks, they only have a 50 percent likelihood of ever returning to work. This is a problem that our nurses work proactively to solve.

 

How transitional light duty changes the game


Giving an injured worker the opportunity to work on light duty after an injury can change their lives and could help substantially lower the impact to both the worker and the employer. 

  • Stops the cycle for employees who may be more likely to see workers' compensation as a solution to their problems
  • Keeps the employee physically conditioned for their work by easing back into working with restrictions from their doctor
  • Gives the employee a sense of normalcy that can have a positive psychological impact during recovery
  • Provides a nurse to monitor the employees' progress on light duty
  • Ensures the gradual return to duty that is medically appropriate for recovery


Nurses proactively work with the employers to collaborate and identify transitional light duty work, and assist with the coordination of return to work. Once an injured worker is back to working light duty, our nurses work closely with the doctor to get the restrictions lifted as soon as is medically appropriate. The average time in light duty is 25 days.


The employers' role in light duty


When an employer can provide opportunities for transitional light duty, they could save on both the direct and indirect costs of a workers' compensation claim. The employer could benefit from these savings, the worker could benefit from improved recovery time, and the other employees can see their employer helping their co-worker recover faster.

  • Paperwork and auditing
  • Document sorting and scanning
  • Switchboard operator backup
  • Receptionist activities
  • Light housekeeping tasks
  • Touch-up painting
  • Visual inspection of facilities where appropriate (for example, trip hazards in the parking lot)


Our nurses will work with the employer to come up with opportunities to provide transitional light duty. 

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