If someone’s has been injured on the job, often temporary work modifications – called transitional work – can help the worker stay safe at work as they recover. As an employer, it’s important to discuss with the worker what changes can be made to help keep the worker safe at work or what changes are needed for return-to-work planning to start right away.
What Is Transitional Work?
Transitional work involves alternative duties or minor changes to pre-injury work that allow a person to continue working while recovering. It is:
- Temporary work, alternative work, or modifications pre-injury work that allows the worker to safely work while recovering.
- Transitional work aligns with the worker’s functional abilities. It focuses on what the worker can do, not what they can’t.
- Meaningful, productive, and temporary. The goal is for the worker to return to their pre-injury position.
Together, the worker and employer, decide on what kind of work adjustments are right for the situation. The adjustments are informed by information from the health care provider about the worker’s current abilities and limitations.
What are the benefits?
- Keeps a valued worker connected with the workplace.
- Helps with social, mental, physical, and financial health.
- Shows other workers the value of return to work.
Transitional Work Examples
Transitional work may entail alterations to your current tasks or a single task, such as refraining from activities, like lifting heavy items. Or it can involve temporarily doing work in a different position such as moving from work which always has you standing, to work that can be done while you are sitting.
Transitional work can fall into two categories—modified transitional work or alternative transitional work.
Modified Transitional Work
Modified transitional work is doing the parts of your existing job that can be done safely by working with your employer to provide supports, changes, or tools to help. Sometimes making safe, small changes to your job right away can help you stay at work and safely recover.
Examples:
- A cap on weights if the job involves heavy lifting
- A chair to rest in if the job involves extended periods of standing
- Working part-time hours instead of full shifts
Alternate Transitional Work
Alternate transitional work is a whole new set of tasks, maybe even in a different department.
Examples:
- An injured truck driver might work dispatch
- A factory floor worker might train new staff instead of working on the factor floor every day
- An EMT might update safety manuals instead of working in the field
Learn more about transitional work at Working to Well.
What about psychological injuries?
Transitional work is an important part of recovery for all types of injuries. Learn more about transitional work for gradual onset psychological injuries.
What if transitional work can’t happen right away?
Depending on the injury, sometimes a worker may not be able to return safely to work right away. If that’s the case, WCB case workers will work closely with workers, employers and providers to make sure a return-to-work plan is put place that identifies a plan for transitional work and a return-to-work date based on the worker’s injury, treatment and recovery.