Recovering at work: it’s “good medicine”

For almost three years now, Disability Management, now known as WorkAbility, has been redefining its work in support of staff who need assistance returning to work. “It was like peeling an onion,” says Chris Back, manager of WorkAbility. “Disability management is a complicated process. As we examined the flow of our work we would uncover more processes that needed improvement. We found we were duplicating work that others were doing or finding work that wasn’t getting enough attention. It’s been quite a transition!”

The team has worked very hard to examine what kind of support staff need to return to their workplaces in a meaningful way. It meant creating closely knit working relationships with other teams, including Employee Relations and the Accommodation Team. Work flows were standardized with the help of Lean Transformation Services, and the HR Data Analysis group developed new reports for managers so that they can see at a glance the status of their employees who are off work because of injury or illness.

And the changes seem to be making a difference. An employee in Vancouver commented in an interview that she had just completed a 5k run, “something I never thought I’d be able to do.” She felt that she and her WorkAbilitiy Advisor were “like-minded,” and her journey of learning how to cope with chronic pain is now seeing positive results. “I feel more in charge. I wish I’d had this opportunity before,” she added.

A Richmond RN felt that she benefitted from VCH and WorkSafe BC working together on her case. “Everyone worked together to make sure I got what I needed.” She worked supernumerary in her own department during her recovery and found her co-workers supportive and non-judgmental.

A Coastal Community of Care staffer said that recovery would not have been possible without all the support. “It’s up to each person to follow through and take the necessary steps toward their own recovery, but I couldn’t have made it without the advice and support I got.”

Puzzling symptoms for a young Richmond employee brought her to her WorkAbility Advisor. “I would have had to wait a year for an appointment to see a specialist, but my Advisor got me in in five weeks,” she says. She values the fact that she is still at work and still contributing. “The worst thing for me would have been if I’d just stayed on the couch. I wanted help for my work life and for my personal life,” says the young mom. “The support is there and I appreciate it.”

The WorkAbility Team works with staff, managers, unions, therapists and other stakeholders to provide early, appropriate and on-going support to maintain our employees’ connection with the workplace and, where appropriate, to return to work in a safe and timely way. For more information about the WorkAbility team, a part of Workplace Health, visit their web pages on VCH Connect.