Injured Employee Guide - Return to Work

A Texas injured employee and her employer make Return to Work a success for them both.

Employees Who Return to Work

• Keep job-related benefits
• Reduce financial losses
• Heal faster
• Remain employable
• Maintain physical and emotional health

The longer employees are away from work after an injury, the harder it is for them to get back to work at all. Employees should ask their doctor about the kind of work they can do, and then talk to their employer about getting back to work as soon as possible.

Return to Work Tools for Employees

• Working Works - Employment Resources for Injured Employees (PDF)
• Injured Employee Return-to-Work Checklist
• Frequently Asked Questions

Related

• About Temporary Income Benefits
• Texas Workforce Commission, Rehabilitation Division

Employers Who Help Employees Return to Work

• Reduce their workers’ compensation costs
• Retain skilled employees
• Eliminate absences
• Avoid costly staff turnover

The longer an employee is away from work, the higher the employer's workers' compensation costs and related business costs. Sometimes an injured employee needs extra help returning to work, especially if they’ve been away from work for a long time. Employers may be able to get reimbursed by DWC for the cost of special tools or modifications to the workplace that allow an injured employee to return to work.

Return to Work Tools for Employers

• Making Return to Work - Work: For Your Business and Your Employees (Return-to-Work Guide) (PDF)
• Effective Return-to-Work Practices for Employers
• About the Return-to-Work Reimbursement Program for Employers (PDF)

Forms for Employers

• DWC Form-001, Employer's First Report of Injury or Illness (PDF)
• DWC Form-008, Return-to-Work Reimbursement Program for Employers (PDF)
• DWC Form-073, Work Status Report (PDF)
• DWC Form-074, Description of Injured Employee's Employment (PDF)