Returning to work after a workplace accident or incident can be a scary experience. Though experts like vocational counselors support such persons, they usually don’t relish the idea of returning to work to the previous organization or working for a new organization after a workplace injury. One of the things that can make things slightly easy for return to work employees is the support from co-workers or the company’s HR. Here you can know how co-workers can help employees return to work and make it a smooth journey without many obstacles. We have also outlined how HR can help such employees feel more comfortable. 

How to Help a Co-Worker to Return to Work?

If you want to welcome back a co-worker who wants to return to work or help a new employee who is disabled due to a workplace injury, feel comfortable, here are a few steps you can take. 

• Welcome with a Surprise

Everybody likes a surprise. Don’t we? You can make the return to work employee feel welcomed by planning a small surprise. Just buy a couple of balloons, a card, or add a welcome! Banner to make the employee feel at home. Decorate the office and ask other colleagues to help in ensuring that an employee feels welcomed by as many people as possible. 

• Clean Out the Area

Cleanliness matters a lot when working from the office after a long time. So, when welcoming an employee after a long time, you need to ensure that that person’s desk is cleaned. If someone else was working for a while during the time the injured employee was on leave, you could ask that person to clear the area before the employee returns. A clean space can work as a great motivator for an employee who is returning to their space after a long time. It can also help trigger happy memories and ensure that they fall in love with their job again. 

• Hand Over the Tasks

As tragedies or accidents can happen anytime, an employee might leave an organization mid-way through a project. If that happened, you could tell the returning employee about the progress on the project and how the person who handled the work temporarily in their absence managed the work. It would be good if the person who was filling in for the injured employee hands over the tasks and explains the process of each individually. 

• Provide them Assistance

If an employee is returning to work after a while and is not 100% capable (physically, mentally, or emotionally), you can provide them with add-on assistance like commute help or help them by preparing meals for them. You can also ensure that the person feels comfortable asking for any other sort of assistance they might need. 

• Check Up on Them

As a responsible colleague, it is your responsibility to check up on the employee and ensure that they feel okay. Catch up with them multiple times a day for a few days and find out whether they feel comfortable or not. You can also get updates on the work and the hurdles (if any) the employee is facing. But, don’t make it just about the work. Ask questions that let you know about their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 

• Win their Trust

It is also a smart idea to befriend the return to work employees and make them feel that they are not different. Then, you can involve them in anything you do, be it a coffee break or a fun Friday event after work. Win their trust with time to make sure that they turn to you if they need any help. 

How HR Can Help a Return to Work Employee

HR can help a return to work employee feel right at home by taking the following steps. 

• Talk About What Changed

If an injured employee is returning to the same organization after a break, it is the duty of HR to share any changes in policies or staffing that might have taken place when the employee was not on the job. 

• Offer More Flexibility

The HR can know about the employee’s physical, emotional, and mental boundaries after talking to an expert like their vocational counselor. Then, HR can offer more flexibility in terms of timings to the employee. For instance, an injured employee might be asked to leave early to avoid the rush hour. 

• Talk About Compensation and Benefits

If the employee’s compensation and benefits have changed due to the new work abilities or work conditions, highlight them to the employee. Don’t hide it from them and give them a clear picture from the start. 

• Ensure a Smoother Re-Entry

Avoid putting a lot of pressure on the employee from day one. Instead, offer Flexi timing and reduced workload in the first few days. You can then increase the work hours if you think that the employee is up to it. 

• Keep the Communication Open

Have one-on-one conversations with the employee and their immediate supervisor to know how the employee is doing, how the employee feels, and how much the employee’s comfort level is. Talk to the supervisor/manager if you think the employee is given more work than they can handle. Also, contact their doctor to ensure that the work is not negatively impacting their recovery. 

Final Words

All in all, it can be said that an employee who is returning to work feels more confident if they know that their colleagues and HR have their back. The more support an employee gets, the more confident they feel, and the more productive they become. So, everyone from HR to colleagues should help an employee to feel comfortable from day one. 

Consult with the Experts

If you need more help helping disabled employees do better, and you want to help as a colleague or an HR, you can consult with the experts of Laura M Wilson & Associates Inc. We provide streamlined Vocational Rehabilitation Services that help disabled people join the workforce again and restart their careers. If one of the persons we have helped is working in your organization and you need advice on how to help them best, you can reach out to us. If you would like to recommend someone to avail of our vocational counseling service, you can still get in touch. We are here to help. Call us toll-free on (800) 531-5608 or call us here.

References:

https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-accommodate-disabled-employees-1918322

https://www.lauramwilson.com/contact/