Partnership with Non-profits Helps Injured Workers Heal Faster

When workers get hurt on the job, employers usually have two options: give them modified light duty work or have them remain at home, unproductive, while they heal. General Casualty Insurance Companies, based in Sun Prairie, Wis., recently introduced a third option for its policyholders: volunteering.

The insurer recently created a rehabilitation program that teams injured employees with non-profit organizations. Local hospitals, food pantries and other charitable organizations often have light-duty work and a shortage of volunteers. Volunteering gives injured employees meaningful work each day while they continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits or are put back on their company’s payroll.

“It’s been great for me mentally to get up and go to work every day, otherwise I’d be sitting at home dwelling on my injury. Here I’m working with a great group of people and helping others. It’s really lifted my spirits,” said one program participant who did administrative work at the Red Cross after injuring his arm operating heavy machinery.

Transitional return-to-work programs, which gradually bring injured employees back on the job for light-duty work, have proven to help them heal faster, save their employers money and improve productivity according to some studies.

General Casualty encourages its policyholders to have a transitional return-to-work program. However, after promoting these programs to its customers, the insurer found that many of the companies it insures, because of size or the nature of the business, don’t have suitable light-duty jobs for employees who are healing from work-related injuries.

“With the volunteer option, we see companies benefiting by getting their employees back to work sooner, reducing disability and medical costs, and controlling their future insurance premiums,” said Sheila McGraw, General Casualty’s assistant vice president of workers’ compensation claims. “They’re also helping their local communities.”

The volunteer return-to-work program is available for companies insured by General Casualty in Illinois, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. It will expand to other states this year.

General Casualty Insurance Companies, headquartered in Sun Prairie, has insured autos, homes and businesses since 1925. General Casualty markets its products through 1,500 independent insurance agencies in 25 states.

Source: General Casualty Insurance Companies