Stakeholders in Disability Management Programs and Their Roles
Many individuals are involved in the administration of joint disability
management
programs. While the players will change depending on the
corporate structure, the
demands of the workplace, and the specific
details of individual return to work plans, the
stakeholders include:
The roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders include
Injured/ill workers are encouraged to actively
participate in the return to work process to
ensure that it is safe,
suitable and sustainable by reporting illness or injury as soon as
possible, contributing to the development of a return-to-work plan,
complying with
recommendations of treatment providers, taking
personal responsibility for maintaining
health and mental well-being
and advising supervisor and RTWC of any change in
circumstances
during the return to work process.
Joint committees oversee the administration of a
disability management program on a
company-wide or worksite-wide
basis. Members provide overall policy direction and
advise on
dispute resolution.
Return to work coordinators (RTWCs) are the main
contact persons for all stakeholders,
an active supporter of the
injured or ill worker and their families, and the catalyst for
facilitating the return to work of that worker. (for a detailed
description of the role and
responsibilities of the RTWC, click
here)
Health care providers assist an employee's return to
work by reviewing functional job
descriptions with the employee to
explore return to work possibilities, completing
thorough functional
assessments, suggesting modifications to tasks to place less strain on
existing injuries or conditions, and communicating effectively with workers
and the
RTWC.
Insurance providers play an essential role in the
disability management process by
supplying for benefits, arranging
for rehabilitation services efficiently, communicating
openly with
the employee and RTWC to explore return to work strategies, and
participating in the process of identifying or creating permanent job
accommodation
options.
Supervisors monitor safe work practices of employees
returning to work, identify
transitional work options or job
accommodations that might assist return to work, work
closely with
RTWC to analyze the overall demands of each job, discuss concerns and
issues around job performance, safety with employee and RTWC and answer
coworkers
questions and concerns about disabled workers, job
modifications, etc.
Senior management provides visible support and
commitment to disability management
objectives, ensures
accountability, ensures necessary program resources are available and
empowers joint committees to carry out program objectives.
Union officials provide visible support and commitment
to the program, support
marketing and promotion efforts, empower the
joint committee, and promote return to
work language within the
collective agreement.
Worker representatives act as an advocate for the
rights of all employees including those
with disabilities, identify
transitional job options, support the worker and the RTWC, and
communicate objectives and potential benefits of disability management
programs to
coworkers.
