Establish a long-term claim management plan. 

If an injured employee has more than three days of lost work time, additional steps must be taken to manage the claim.

1. Return the completed “Employer’s Wage Statement” form to your examiner. You can download this form from our claims form library.
   
   
2. Contact your injured employee at least once a week. Statistics show that maintaining regular contact significantly reduces the length of time an employee is off work and makes their transition back to work much easier—resulting in happier employees and reduced workers’ compensation costs.
   
   
3. Create the employee's return-to-work plan. Injured employees who return to work, even in a limited capacity, regain their ability to earn a paycheck and contribute to their team. Their safe, speedy return also helps you control claim costs and reduce your need for replacement workers.  Note: If you do not have appropriate light-duty transitional work available, but would like to help your injured employee continue their transition back to work, we can provide you with information on how to set up a transitional work assignment through a nonprofit organization.
   
   
4. Obtain a work release from the treating doctor prior to allowing the employee to return to work. If you are unable to obtain a work release after the initial medial evaluation, let the examiner know. The examiner will work with the doctor to obtain a work release with detailed temporary medical restrictions or limitations.
   
   
5. If the employee returns to temporary, transitional work with restrictions, contact your Zenith examiner or RTW specialist who will confirm and document work tasks to ensure the employee is working appropriately within medical limitations.
   
   
6. Monitor the employee’s transitional work assignment. Check with the employee after the first day and periodically thereafter to ensure no additional problems arise from the transitional work assignment.