Work is a critical part of recovery, and a key milestone in recovery from any mental health issue or psychological injury is being able to work. We’re there to support you, your employer, and health care provider every step of the way.
Often, this means adjusting regular work activities based on your current abilities, which will change as recovery progresses. This is called transitional work.
With the worker’s needs at the center, the employer, healthcare provider, WCB Case Manager, and Return-to-Work Specialist will all play roles in return-to-work planning.
Learn more about the benefits of returning to work.
Transitional Work Example Scenarios
Here are some examples of transitional work that can be used for a worker returning with a gradual onset psychological injury.
Scenario 1: Reduced Client Interaction and Phased Return
Background:
Samantha, a retail sales associate, experienced a gradual onset psychological injury after dealing with a particularly aggressive client who frequently berated her over product issues, made personal attacks, and threatened to report her to management over trivial matters. The ongoing stress and fear of facing the client led to severe anxiety.
Transitional Work:
When Samantha returns to work, her employer arranges for her to have limited client interactions initially. She is assigned to restocking shelves, organizing inventory, and assisting with online orders. As her confidence and ability to manage stress improve, she gradually begins interacting with clients again, starting with less challenging situations.
Scenario 2: Reduced Hours and Phased Return
Background:
Tom, a construction worker, experienced a gradual onset psychological injury due to ongoing bullying by a supervisor. The supervisor frequently berated him in front of his peers and assigned him the most physically demanding tasks. This led to chronic stress and anxiety, resulting in a need for medical leave.
Transitional Work:
When Tom returns, he starts with reduced hours, working four-hour shifts instead of the usual eight. Initially, he is assigned to less physically demanding tasks, such as site clean-up and inventory management. As his confidence and stamina improve, his hours and responsibilities are gradually increased.
Scenario 3: Remote Work and Alternate Duties
Background:
Rachel, a customer service manager, developed a gradual onset psychological injury after experiencing ongoing harassment from a group of coworkers. They excluded her from team activities and spread malicious rumours, leading to stress and depression.
Transitional Work:
Rachel starts her return to work by working remotely three days a week. During this period, she focuses on handling email inquiries and administrative tasks that can be managed from home. Gradually, she transitions to more client-facing roles and reduces the number of remote workdays.