How to Return to Work After an Injury

Workers sometimes get injured on the job and need time off for surgery, rehabilitation, and rest and relaxation. A worker has to clear the necessary obstacles before returning to work. If you return to work too soon, you may reinjure yourself and have a setback or relapse. Before returning to work you should receive the necessary clearance. Everyone involved in the process needs to be in agreement.

Instructions

• 1

  Make sure you feel like returning to work. Sometimes people return to work when they are still dizzy, have headaches, or their stitches have not healed properly. Returning too soon could reactivate an injury and put you out of work even longer. If you are reinjured you could harm yourself and even do permanent damage.

• 2

  Get clearance from your doctor or physical therapist. A doctor will give you a release when she feels that you have the ability to perform some type of work at your place of employment. A physical or occupational therapist will let you perform some tests to make sure you can perform the duties at work. You may get released back to work with some restrictions until you can perform the job you usually do. A job of this sort is a transitional job. As time progresses you are able to gradually transition back to your original job. This process keeps you from overloading yourself and doing too much.

• 3

  Meet with your boss upon your return. This gives you a chance to provide your boss with updated information about your health and work needs. You will be able to communicate any type of restrictions as well as inform your boss about any adjustments you may need. This is an opportunity to make your transition to the workplace as smooth as possible.

• 4

  Check in with personnel. Sometimes you have to provide the necessary paperwork to the human resources department. They may have to perform certain procedures and functions designed to put you back in the system in an active status.

• 5

  Determine if there will be any adjustments to your work schedule initially. Your health may not permit you to work a full work week. Perhaps you can work three or four days per week for a three-week period. This will ensure that you can adjust to the workplace without placing any undue stress and anxiety on you. Working a full work week may prove to be exhausting mentally, emotionally and physically. A shorter work week will keep you from becoming depressed and overworked.