More employers are using return-to-work programs for injured workers even if they were not injured on the job, according to a study by Prudential Insurance Co. of America.
Many employers have a return-to-work program for their injured employees because it cuts down on workers’ comp claims costs and lets the worker get back to feeling productive.
But more employers have also started returning employees to work who have been off duty due to non-job-related ailments.
The survey found that 49% of large employers have a return-to-work program for their disability programs, and another 22% of employers plan to add such programs in the near future.
Prudential noted that workers’ comp and non-occupational disability return-to-work programs should be similar in approach, and that both can save a company money. Return to Work Not Just for Workers