Return to Work Policies Make Cents

The hazards encountered on a daily basis by those working in restaurants often lead to injuries, the restrictions from which are inherently difficult to accommodate.  From a dull knife in the kitchen you can start bleeding money and from the hot oil in the fryer, get badly burned by the workers’ compensation system.  Despite the best training and safety equipment you may provide, accidents happen. Carrying workers’ compensation coverage is not only legally required, but also the best way to reduce the financial risk. However, relying on your carrier is not enough.  To keep your claim costs low and your premiums reasonable, a carefully tailored, well-executed return to work (RTW) policy is critical.

To run an RTW program, you need to craft one particular to the nature of your business and to your company itself.  There are core steps to guide you in the creation and implementation of a successful program:

Step 1: Implement a written RTW policy that is applied evenly

Step…