Managed Care

Transitional Work – What is it and why is it important?

Andrea Kiener
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Published on Oct 4
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Transitional Work is a return to work tool available for employers to use when an employee is injured on the job and has restrictions preventing him/her from returning to their full duty/regular position of employment.

The program is designed to transition the injured worker back to their full duty position and is tailored to fit your 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 Managed Care Organization (MCO) will assist in the use of your TWP.

Benefits of a Transitional Work Program

Statistics have shown that employers will incur indirect costs from a workers’ compensation claim. These costs can reach four times more than the actual claim costs.  Some of the indirect costs are due to:

  • limited/decreased productivity
  • increased hiring and training costs
  • higher overtime expenses
  • increased legal costs
  • lowered morale
  • loss of business
  • a loss of customer goodwill.

The Transitional Work Program can assist injured workers’ 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.

If you choose to have a professional develop a TWP for you, the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) provides 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 the 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.

For more information regarding a Transitional Work Program or the Transitional Work Grant, please contact a Client Relations Manager at 888-743-2559 ext. 7.


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