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When someone is hurt at work, employers and workers alike feel the impact.

The best way to protect your business against workplace injuries is to emphasize safety and prevention.

However, if a worker does get injured, it is important that you keep them involved in the company and connected to their workplace to ensure a healthy return to work as soon as possible.

This may seem like a complicated task if you are a small business focusing on the work ahead, but it's actually very simple. All you need to do is communicate with the injured worker and keep in touch with the WCB.

What is Return to Work?

Return to work is a way to help injured workers stay at work or return to the workplace safely after an injury.

A return to work plan gives injured workers safe and suitable duties for them to do while they recover. This helps them get back to health and work as they recover from an injury or illness.

By developing a return to work plan with the injured worker, you can give the worker the help they need for a healthy recovery, reduce days lost and help your business stay productive.

Keeping the WCB in the discussion helps ensure that everyone has the same plan.

How Can Return to Work Make a Positive Impact on My Premiums?

As a small employer, it's important to understand the need to work with the WCB to bring your worker back to full-time duties.

Even if your company only has an injury every few years, if that worker is off work for a long period of time it could impact your premium and drive up your rate. This will ultimately increase the amount you pay in WCB premiums.

The more companies in your industry that don't manage injured workers returning to work properly (and as a result, have high time loss claims), the more likely it is that all of the companies in your industry could end up paying higher premiums.

What Else Can I Do When an Injury Happens?

When an injury happens at your workplace, you should investigate the cause of the injury and take steps to prevent it from happening again. Industry-based safety programs and SAFE Work Manitoba have information and resources to help you prevent injuries.

Learn more about industry-based safety programs

Go to SAFE Work Manitoba website