If you have an employee injured on the job, it's important to keep them happy for several reasons. First, a cooperative employee will be much easier to work with as you file a worker's compensation claim. They may also feel more valued as an employee and more loyal to the company if you make the effort to keep them comfortable. Finally, an injured employee can potentially damage the productivity and morale of the whole team if the situation isn't handled properly. Here are some ways to manage an injured employee.
Help them with Worker's Compensation
The first thing you can do to keep your employee satisfied is to help them navigate the worker's compensation process. Having to figure out the legal implications of the injury while also seeking medical help and dealing with personal fallout from the injury can be a lot to place on the employee. You can help, for starters, by providing them with ample information about how your worker's compensation insurance works. Help guide them through the process, offering assistance with paperwork and checking in regularly. You may also want to appoint a workers compensation lawyer, from a place like Neifert Byrne & Ozga, who can offer some third-party assistance in the process.
Offer Additional Benefits
You may also wish to offer some additional benefits as needed. For instance, time off can be helpful to getting your employee back on their feet. Gestures like flowers, chocolates, or a bottle of wine can go a long way as well. Just be sure that you decide upfront how much is reasonable to give; you may be setting a standard that other employees will expect to be followed, should they get injured.
Set Work Expectations Upfront
If your employee is continuing to work, it's a good idea to discuss how much work is reasonable upfront. Are you anticipating a lighter workload or do you need the employee to maintain full productivity? How can you help to make the employee more comfortable and productive while injured? Doing so can help you to avoid misunderstandings and make sure that neither side feels taken advantage of.
Solicit Some Feedback
Once the injury is healed and all is said and done, solicit feedback. Did your employee feel supported and valued while they were going through their workplace injury? This type of questioning can help the employee to feel heard, while also providing you with valuable notes that you can use in the future.
Share28 July 2016
Hi, my name is Sally. I was living a pretty average, uneventful life until I had an accident. At that point, my life become more stressful and painful than I could have ever imagined. Sadly, my accident happened on private property, and it could have been prevented if the owner of the property had kept up with his shoveling. For months, I missed work, suffered through constant pain and become more and more depressed. Finally, a friend referred me to an accident and injury lawyer, and she showed me how to get the compensation that I deserved. I don't want to see anyone else suffer like I did, and because of that, I decided to create this blog. Here, I hope anyone who has been injured can find the information they need to get fully compensated and regain their lives. Enjoy your reading and thanks for stopping by!
