Elements of an RTW Program Once the

Elements of an RTW Program Once the previous questions have been adequately addressed, designing the elements of a RTW process becomes necessary. Examples include the following:a. Modified Duty Assignment Because many injured workers are quite willing and able to perform some but not all of the essential duties of a job, modifying specific tasks or functions may be necessary to allow an employee to return to work. In fact, workers’ compensation studies have shown that employees who are offered modified/light duty assignments return to full duty more quickly than injured workers who incur lost time. This translates into a lower overall injury cost and allows the employee to get back into the routine of work much more quickly. Modified duty may include eliminating essential functions or creating a short-term job for the employee until they’re able to return to full duty. Having accurate job descriptions is necessary to engage in this process, as the employee and doctor will use them to return the employee to work with the proper restrictions.