Stress delays return to work
“More than half (55%) of people who suffered stress or other mental conditions were absent from work for five days or more”, says the Australian Social Trends, June 2011 report.
Workers who suffered fractures were also likely (53%) to be absent for longer than five days. However, workers with other types of injuries, such as cuts and open wounds, and crushing injuries were less likely to be off work for more than five days.
The report also found that while 44% of workers who suffered a work injury in 2009-10 did not miss any work, those suffering stress were more likely to take time off.
“The ABS report highlights the fact that workers compensation claims involving psychological injuries are often difficult to manage”, says Paul Smeaton, EGM Statutory Claims.
“At GIO, we have implemented a number of initiatives to help our team members better manage psychological injury claims. For instance, we have introduced specific processes to identify and act on secondary psychological injury indicators. We have also implemented a psychological injury training program for our claims staff and we are now utilising the services of rehabilitation providers that specialise in psychological Injuries.
GIO also offer a training course for employers to assist in the prevention and management of psychological injuries.
We are confident that these and other such initiatives will lead to better return to work outcomes for workers with psychological injury claims”, says Mr Smeaton.
GIO’s Prevention and Management of Psych Injuries training course is free for GIO customers. Click here to register now.