Workers Wellbeing
AMIEU CARES
ABOUT YOUR WELLBEING!
Return to Work - Your Rights
- your right to choose your own treating doctor
- your right to choose your rehab provider
- your right to contact your Union
- your right to financial compensation
- your right to treatment and rehabilitation in a reasonable time
What is the role of the Union in Return to Work?
Watchdog - ensure that workers rights are protected
Support - help injured workers to recover from their injuries and get back to full time work
Information - give information to workers
Solve problems - know where to go for extra help if you need it
An employer must have a Return to Work program before this program is developed:
- the injured worker must be consulted
- the injured workers doctor must be consulted
- your Union - AMIEU must be consulted
- your Union must sign off on the RTW program
Who is on your team?
- you - the injured worker
- your Union representative - organiser / delegate
- the insurance company
- the employer
- your doctor / insurance company doctors
- accredited rehab provider
- other health professionals
The Union support to you will include:
- keeping in touch
- supporting you with your ongoing treatment
- encouraging & supporting you to communicate with the treating doctor and the employer
- assisting to identify any problems that may be preventing your return to work
- ensuring the employer is providing suitable work duties
- encourage your work mates to be positive about your return to work on suitable duties
What are suitable duties?
- not just "light duties"
- suitable for you personally
- must be reasonable
- may be increased in stages
- is not to token or demeaning
- must be designed in full consultation with you
What are the options for suitable duties?
- return to pre-injury duties
- different duties - same work section
- different duties - different work section
- different duties - new workplace
- training courses for additional qualifications
Your Union can help you with Return to Work if the following occurs:
- employer does not offer suitable duties
- employer terminates you after 6 months
- worker refuses suitable duties
- the team does not communicate with each other
What can the Union do to solve problems about return to work?
- ensure the injured worker is consulted
- ensure your return to work is a team approach
- ensure everybody agrees to the return to work goal
- negotiate the solution if necessary
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