Effective from August 2017

Approved by: Chief Executive Officer

At a Glance

Five Good Friends values the health and safety of its workers and is committed to providing a safe workplace. However, the we acknowledge that injuries may occur. This Return to Work Policy provides a framework to ensure that the Company and its workers cooperate to ensure that workers successfully return to work following an injury.

Scope

All Five Good Friends workers (employees, volunteers and contractors).

Objective

To provide clear guidance on roles, responsibilities, and management of return to work of Five Good Friends workers following injury.

Definitions

• N/A

Policy Statement

• Workers are required to:
  • notify their manager of any injury as soon as is practicable and complete an incident form
  • make reasonable efforts to actively participate and cooperate with the company in planning their return to work
  • actively use an occupational rehabilitation service and cooperate with the provider of that service
  • actively participate and cooperate in any assessment of:
    • the worker’s capacity to work
    • rehabilitation progress, and
    • future employment prospects
  • make reasonable efforts to return to work in suitable employment or their pre-injury employment, and
  • participate in any interview for the purpose of enhancing the worker’s opportunity to return to work.
• If the worker fails to comply with these responsibilities, the Five Good Friends may end their compensation benefits.
• Five Good Friends will:
  • provide to the worker
    • suitable employment, taking into account the capacity of the worker as a result of the injury
    • pre-injury employment, if the worker no longer has an incapacity to work, and
    • plan the worker’s return to work by:
      • obtaining relevant information about the worker’s capacity to work
      • considering reasonable workplace support, aids or modifications to assist in the worker’s return to work
      • assessing and proposing options for suitable employment and preinjury employment, and
      • consulting with relevant parties.
• Consultation involves:
  • consulting with the worker, the worker’s healthcare practitioner and any provider of occupational rehabilitation services about the return to work of the employee by:
    • sharing information about the worker’s return to work
    • providing a reasonable opportunity for those persons to consider and express their views about the worker’s return to work
    • taking those views into account; and
    • informing the insurer of all injuries within 48 hours of their occurrence.
• The obligations of the company will extend for the requisite statutory period from the date upon which the company first becomes aware that the worker has made a claim for compensation or submitted a medical certificate that relates to a claim for compensation.
• The Return to Work Coordinator will ensure that both Five Good Friends and the worker honour their obligations under this policy.