Five Key Questions To Ask All Employees To Improve Return To Work Programs

Computer Literacy Trends are an opportunity in workers’ compensation return to work. Jobs such as dishwasher, laborer, truck driver, janitor, housekeeping, heavy equipment operator are not jobs normally requiring computer use. Yet, statistics indicate that use of home computers and PDA’s are off the charts. Since computer literacy dramatically improves an injured worker’s chances to secure alternative or modified duty work, it makes sense for employers to key in on the home computer craze.

From working in the return to employability field for 20 years, Gordon R. Butler has insightful advice to provide. Gordon advises, take the time to determine your employees technology skills before injury or illness occurs. One savvy employer thought ahead to include a few key questions of all staff during the standard hiring and performance evaluation process. This equipped the company to discuss return to work options via email while the employee was recuperating and unable to come to the workplace.

Make sure to ask:
1-Do you have a home email address?
2-What type of computer do you have at home? PC/MAC?
3-Do you have internet access from home?
4-If you have typing skills, are they Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced?
5-List all types of software you like to use?

The questions serve two purposes. They were preparing to explore the option to telecommute and wanted to monitor how many employees might already be equipped to take advantage of this option. In the process, they discovered the information was valuable in workers’ compensation RTW program efforts also.

From working in the return to employability field for 20 years, Gordon R. Butler has insightful advice to provide. Gordon R. Butler, national authority/consultant on employability & wage capacity in workers’ comp, liability, PIP and LTD Claims. He can be reached at 321-377-1164 (cell) or email gbutler@gbutlerconsult.com www.gbutlerconsult.com

WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php

Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.