RTW Coordinator Training
A six-part series designed for Tennessee employers
The Employer Training Program is free online training program. It brings together professionals to discuss best-practices to coordinate a meaningful return to work after a work-injury. This training is a part of the Bureau’s REWARD program. It covers six different aspects of the return-to-work journey that benefit both employers and their workers.
A Return-To-Work Program is Smart Business
According to a 2018 National Council on Compensation Insurance study, the direct cost to employers for an employee injury averages $41,000 per claim. Indirect costs such as overtime, training temporary or replacement employees, and lost productivity are often greater than the direct costs. A return-to-work plan can reduce the costs involved with a workplace accident, which can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for a Tennessee business.
Rethink Existing Procedures or Start Anew
An employer can have a REWARD program led by one person or a team approach. The training provides tools and expertise to safety managers, human resources professionals, risk managers, or other persons to find modified work opportunities and to encourage injured workers as they recover.
Training Content
Workers’ Compensation 101
Learn about employer and employee rights in workers’ compensation, the value of return-to-work advocacy, and the Bureau’s role in workers’ compensation. This course is taught by BWC personnel.
Effective Communication
The Bureau’s mediation director will share tips, techniques, and methods mediators use to positively influence and persuade, build credibility and trust, listen, obtain commitment, engage strong emotions, and lead change.
The Role of a Return to Work Coordinator
Join vocational experts and/or case managers as they identify the key tasks and responsibilities of a return-to-work coordinator. These experienced professionals will detail the best practices and activities they’ve seen work throughout their careers.
Working with Physicians: Pre-injury and Post-injury
Relationships and shared expectations with physicians before and after a work injury improve the return-to-work process. Join a licensed physician and workers’ compensation expert as he discusses tips, techniques, and best practices for getting the most out of your physician relationships.
Job Demand Analysis
Job analysis experts will explain how they identify job tasks, job demands, and essential and marginal functions of jobs. They will explore the value of job analysis in return-to-work rather than a job description.
Legal Issues Outside Workers’ Compensation
Employers are subject to many state and federal regulations that affect their relationships with employees. Join attorneys experienced in employment law such as FMLA and the ADA as they discuss how these laws interact with workers’ compensation and return-to-work.
Variety of Presenters
The BWC training program utilizes expertise from vocational rehabilitation, case management, physical therapy, employers, medical providers, legal professionals, and state government to provide a comprehensive training experience.
Join a Community
This program includes a platform to connect with other professionals from across the state to share best practices, ask questions, and grow during the sessions and continues after the course is over.
Designed to Fit Your Schedule
The training is organized into self-paced educational videos and virtual live sessions conducted via Microsoft Teams. The sessions are spread out over three months to better fit into busy schedules.
Summer 2024 Course Schedule
- Tue, May 14, 2024: Introductory Session
- Tue, May 28, 2024: Workers’ Compensation 101
- Tue, June 11, 2024: Effective Communication
- Tue, June 25, 2024: The Role of the RTW Coordinator
- Tue, July 9, 2024: Working with Physicians
- Tue, July 23, 2024: Job Demand Analysis
- Tue, August 6, 2024: Legal Issues Outside of Workers' Compensation
Additional offerings of this course will be announced at a later date.
FAQs
Free. We offer these free to employers to reach as many interested employers as possible.
No. The course is for everyone for experienced professionals and those who are just starting out. Although we hope you’ll join our REWARD program as you develop your own return to work plan.
Those who attend all live sessions and watch all videos will receive a completion certificate. If you are not able to attend a live session, they will all be recorded and made available for later viewing. However, if you want to receive the certificate for participating in this program, please don't miss more than two live sessions.
We hope to build a network of employers to learn and share best return-to-work practices through the REWARD Employer Support Network. Sign up to be notified of upcoming events via our email list.
Still have a question? Contact Marion.White@tn.gov.
This Page Last Updated: April 24, 2024 at 12:05 PM