He's making a list, he's checking it twice...

His modified duty task list...that is. 

RTW planning is like holiday shopping.  Some of us get it done well in advance, as early as July, while others are in line the day before hoping that the gift they intend to buy is still in stock. 

So, really, when should an employer focus on RTW planning? It should be done proactively, re-evaluated after an injury occurs, and throughout the life of a claim.

Before an injury occurs
Do not wait until an injury happens to create a modified duty program.  Some employers have never experienced an injury involving time away from work, but it will remain a possibility as long as they are in business and have employees.  If an employer waits until after a loss occurs to develop their RTW program, needless days of disability may result. 

Create a list of job duties for the positions in your organization.  Start with the positions that you believe to be the most challenging to modify.  Categorize the tasks into sedentary, light, medium, one-handed work, seated work, etc.  Review your loss histories to determine the most frequent types of injuries (i.e., low back strain, rotator cuff tears, and carpal tunnel syndrome).

Make sure your employees know that you are willing to offer modified duty work. As previously noted, one of the number one reasons physicians do not release an injured worker to modified duty is because the injured worker reports there is no modified duty available.

After an injury occurs
Ask the nurse case manager to provide projected restrictions to start the RTW planning process before the doctor even releases the injured worker.  Review the injured worker's job duties and begin classifying them into categories of work (i.e., sedentary, can be done with one arm, doesn't require lifting above waist level). 

In the event the injured worker is totally disabled for two weeks, don't wait until the RTW date to decide that you don't have any work --- use these two weeks to develop potential tasks, and get them approved by the treating physician.  Doing so will help to ensure that the modified duty is appropriate and will help prevent re-injury.

Throughout the injury
Continue to re-evaluate your ability to offer work as the injured worker recovers.  If you have additional work that can be done, offer it!  Each time the injured worker sees their doctor, RTW is discussed.  Be sure to obtain the most recent restrictions and re-evaluate your ability to offer modified duty work.

After RTW
Review each claim as an opportunity for improvement in your RTW program.  Reflect upon what your greatest challenges were or what worked exceptionally well and apply it to your program.  Just as each year brings the latest and greatest gadgets just in time for the holiday shopping season, your RTW program should also be updated to reflect your company's exposures regularly.