3 Tips for Going Back to Work After an Injury

Suffering an injury at work can be devastating and leave you unable to earn an income for quite some time. After being out of work for a while, it may be helpful to learn some tips for returning to work once you have recovered.

After all, you may not be in the same physical shape you were when you got hurt, so you may need to change the way you conduct your daily duties in order to accommodate your injury.

Below, we’ve put together three helpful tips for returning to work after getting hurt. Read on to find out what they are.

#1 - Your doctor and your body know best.

Always take heed to what your doctor or health professional tells you. It’s critical that you do not return to work until your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Even though you may want or need to go back to work sooner, it’s in your best interest not to.

Keep in mind that feeling depressed or bored during your recovery is completely normal. But this is not a reason to return to work before your doctor clears you to.

If you are eager to return to work, be sure to ask your doctor questions about when you may be able to work again. Even if you aren’t particularly eager to return to work, it’s still important to ask your physician questions about your recovery timeline and when you may be able to get back to work.

However, you don’t want to influence a rushed medical opinion because you are growing impatient.

Additionally, pay attention to the signals your body is sending. You know better than anyone else whether you feel able to return to work.

If your doctor provides you with a timeline that doesn’t meet your expectations, but you feel well, you can always get in touch with your doctor and keep them informed of your progress. Your physician needs your honest insight to best help you.

#2 - Ask for what you need.

When your doctor clears you to return to work, don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations if you need them. You may not need them forever, but it may take some time for you to build back the strength you had before you got hurt.

There’s nothing wrong with asking for accommodations and you have the right to request them so that your workplace is accessible to you. Your physician may also provide your employer with recommendations on accommodations.

#3 - Keep in contact with your employer.

Your employer must respect your rights regarding the privacy of your relationship with your healthcare provider. However, you can still provide your employer with updates about your condition so that no one feels left out of the loop.

It may be helpful to keep open lines of communication between you and your employer during your recovery. You may want to discuss potential accommodations with your employer while you are recovering from the injury so that it doesn’t come as a surprise when you return. That way you have the smoothest possible transition when you get back to work.