This article was provided by Travelers Europe
In a challenging business environment, unexpected workplace injuries can cause significant strain and disruption. According to Health and Safety Executive (HSE) data from 2018/2019 through 2021/2022, an average of 612,000 UK workers were injured in workplace accidents each year. Those incidents not only affect the wellbeing of employees, but they also impact an organisation’s bottom line. The HSE found that the economic costs of self-reported workplace injuries in 2019/2020 (the latest year for which cost data was available) totalled £7.6 billion.
But businesses can improve their outcomes by taking early action when workplace injuries happen. That’s why Travelers offers Proactive Rehabilitation Support (PRS) as an additional benefit in our Employers’ Liability insurance cover. PRS allows businesses to provide support to an injured employee before they even file a claim. This early intervention helps reduce an employee’s recovery time and improves their chances of returning to their pre-accident role.
To kickstart our PRS benefit, an insured business must notify us within 30 days following a workplace accident. The support we provide as part of the cover applies when an employee has been signed off work for more than seven days by a medical practitioner. PRS is beneficial to the injured employee who cannot return to work immediately or requires rehabilitation to resume their normal duties and schedule.
PRS can make a significant difference in outcomes for both the employee and employer. It includes these benefits:
Comprehensive rehabilitation assessment: We make a referral to our rehabilitation provider who conducts a thorough telephone or face to face assessment. This is tailored to the injured employee and ensures that their rehabilitation plan aligns with their needs.
Timely access to rehabilitation programmes: PRS allows the injured employee to access return-to-work rehabilitation programmes from the start of their medical treatment. This early intervention can speed up recovery and increase the likelihood of a successful return to work.
Cost reduction: One of the most appealing aspects of PRS is its potential to help a business minimise expenses related to an injury. By reducing the amount of time an injured employee is away from work, PRS limits the financial impact of workplace injuries on businesses. It minimises lost production, recruitment costs, and expenses associated with training replacement staff. It also helps reduce the indirect costs of employee absence, such as the need to pay existing staff overtime to cover for an employee who cannot work.
These benefits protect the ability of a business to operate as usual – all while maintaining its commitment to protecting employee health and safety.
That’s a powerful message for organisations to communicate – particularly as the connection between employer practices and employee wellbeing continues to be examined. For example, the new Care Quality Commission framework will be assessing how employers care for and support their staff. Further, as Dr Richard Heron, co-author of the report Measuring Wellbeing For Healthy Workers and Organisations, said: “The evidence is increasingly clear that when leaders genuinely care about worker wellbeing, business outcomes of interest are better, whether they be long-term stock price, the ability to attract and retain talent or the robustness of safety and governance approaches.”
PRS provides businesses with a fantastic means of protecting their own long-term health, as well as that of their employees.
We have seen the power of PRS play out with our policyholders. In one case, a business reported a stabbing injury that resulted in wounds to an employee’s chest and side and subsequent psychological side effects. Soon after this was reported, arrangements were made to undertake an initial needs assessment; a personalised rehabilitation programme was then made that included scar management, fatigue management assessments, physiotherapy and psychological support. Our timely intervention following the incident, as well as continuous monitoring of the injured employee’s case, made it possible for the person to resume their regular duties and hours. A graded return to work plan was devised and within three weeks they returned to their normal duties. Without that support, the functional and psychological repercussions of the incident might have kept the employee away from their job for far longer.
In another case, an employee suffered an injury to their non-dominant shoulder and had received minimal NHS physiotherapy intervention, without success. Following a telephone rehabilitation assessment, a comprehensive rehabilitation plan was made that included case management, private physiotherapy and an appointment with a private orthopaedic consultant. The consultant recommended surgery, which was successful and led to the employee’s full recovery, a graded return to work plan was made and they returned to their normal duties.
We achieve these outcomes through a streamlined claims referral process. After a workplace injury occurs, the insured business or broker can submit the referral to us. Our claim team then evaluates the referral to ensure it meets the policy terms and conditions. They contact the insured company or broker if they need additional information and then ask them to complete a referral form with details about the injury. Once we receive the completed form, we direct it to our in-house nurse who manages the case from start to finish. They assess the injury, review the employee’s prospects for returning to work and any other concerns, and inform the insured that the referral will be sent on to a rehabilitation provider suited to address the employee’s needs. Our in-house nurse authorises the treatment and rehabilitation as recommended by the case manager, who continues to oversee the case until the employee resumes their normal work schedule and responsibilities.
While an employee who has utilised PRS may still file a claim and seek compensation for an injury, PRS can reduce claim numbers too. A good number of Employers’ Liability claims come about because the injured individual feels they have not been supported following an accident. PRS reduces that possibility by offering support tailored to the injured person’s needs. Should a claim still follow, any ultimate settlement should be mitigated as the injured employee hasn’t had to wait on an ever-growing waiting list for treatment.
As businesses of all kinds struggle with staffing and the challenges of a difficult economy, PRS can be a game-changer. While the benefit isn’t limited to particular sectors, it may be especially helpful to organisations in the health and care industries as they manage acute staffing shortages and an increasing demand for their services.
Brokers can offer it to clients as an enhanced level of service and support that transcends the insurance contract. As a risk-management tool, PRS can be a natural part of the operating procedures a business follows after a workplace accident. It can pave a smoother path to recovery and return to work following an injury – something that helps both employer and employee. It’s a win for everyone.
Travelers does not warrant that the information in this presentation constitutes a complete and finite list of each and every item or procedure related to the topics or issues referenced herein. Furthermore, laws, regulations, standards or codes may change from time to time and you should always refer to the most current requirements and take specific advice when dealing with specific situations. In no event will The Travelers Companies, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates be liable in tort or in contract to anyone who has access to or uses this information.
