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Published on Jul 7
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Transitional Work is a “return to work” tool available for employers that have an employee injured on the job and now have restrictions preventing them from fulfilling their position’s duties. Now there is a Transitional Work Program to help employers facing this situation.
The program is designed to transition the injured worker back to their full duty position and is tailored to fit their needs. This program can be created internally, or the employer can utilize a professional to create and develop the Transitional Work Program (TWP).
How does the program work?
You will use your TWP when you have an employee that is injured on the job that cannot return to their full duty position, but can return to work with restrictions or in a modified duty position. You will then follow the program that has been developed for your organization. Sheakley UniComp, as your Ohio Managed Care Organization (MCO) will assist in the use of your TWP.
Benefits of a Transitional Work Program
– Reduce or eliminate loss time from work for your injured employee
– Reduce the cost charged to the claim, which should help reduce your overall workers’ compensation costs
– Job analysis are created to help determine what tasks an injured worker is able to perform
Additionally, statistics have shown that employers will incur indirect costs from a workers’ compensation claim. These costs can reach four time more than the actual claim costs themselves. Some of the indirect cost are due to:
– Limited/decreased productivity
– Increased hiring and training costs
– Higher overtime expenses
– Increased legal costs
– Lowered morale
– Loss of business
– Loss of customer goodwill
The TWP can assist your injured employee’s return to work safely and timely. This will help reduce the indirect costs mentioned above as well as the direct cost charged to the claim.
The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation has Grant money available to help cover the costs
If you choose to have a professional develop a TWP for you, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) will provide funding through the Transitional Work Grant. The BWC will pay 75% of the cost for development, up to the maximum amount based on employee count. (It is important to know that if an employer has previously received a grant from BWC for transitional work plan development, that employer is not eligible to receive another one. Only state fund private employer and public employer taxing district employers are eligible for such a grant.) Sheakley UniComp has established relationships with Professional Grant Developers that can create your TWP and assist with the application or the grant funding. Our Client Relations Managers can facilitate the necessary steps to complete the development of your program.
Transitional Work Bonus Program
The BWC offers a Transitional Work Bonus Program for employers who have a transitional work program. An employer with an approved transitional work program may receive up to a 10% back end bonus for using their TWP. Even if you don’t have a Transitional Work Program that was developed and funded from the Grant, but have your own internal program, your company could be eligible for the Bonus Program. Our Client Relations Managers can answer your questions and walk you through this process step-by-step.
Benefits of the Transitional Work Bonus Program
– Employers can earn a bonus for simply using their TWP
– The bonus earned can help offset the costs of the development that the Grant doesn’t cover
For more information regarding a Transitional Work Program, the Transitional Work Grant or the Transitional Work Bonus Program, please contact a Client Relations Manager at 888-743-2559 ext. 7.
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