Employer: Return to work roles

The role of your employer

When a worker is injured on the job and has an incapacity for work, employers have obligations under the law to help them return to safe work.

It’s essential that your employer consults with you directly. And with your consent, they also need to consult with your treating health practitioner and where one is involved, your occupational rehabilitation provider.

Your employer must start planning for your return to work as soon as they receive your claim for weekly payments or your WorkSafe certificate of capacity (whichever happens first), or they are notified by their agent that they have received these documents.

How you and your employer plan for your return to work will depend on your injury or illness, your capacity for work and your workplace.

You may not have to wait until you are 100 percent recovered to return to work. And there may be other options available to you, such as reduced hours, alternative duties, working from home or changing employer.

Consult with your employer

The types of things your employer should consult with you about include:

• Your capacity for work and any limitations you may have
• Proposed options for duties and hours that you could do now or when your recovery progresses
• Other changes to support your return to work, such as reasonable aids or modifications, supervision arrangements or your work location
• What to expect in your return to work
• How they can support you at work during your recovery