Return to Work Challenges in Workers’ Comp: Employer Considerations; Effective RTW Programs
Recording of a 90-minute CLE video webinar with Q&A
This CLE webinar will discuss employer challenges when managing an injured employee's leave and return to work (RTW) and best practices for counsel to help clients navigate the process. The panel will discuss the importance of having an RTW program in place, key components of an RTW program, and best practices for helping employers to remain compliant throughout the employee's leave and the process of getting them back to their job.
Outline
- Introduction
- Employer responsibilities and challenges
- Establishing an RTW program
- Purpose
- Parties to the program and their obligations
- Employee eligibility
- Insurance and provider coordination for injury management and assessment
- Communication with injured employee
- Job accommodations and/or transitional work assignments
- Documentation
- Exit criteria
- Employee training
- Interaction with other leave laws: FMLA, ADA, state law
- Establishing an RTW program
- Practitioner takeaways
Benefits
The panel will review these and other important considerations:
- What challenges are faced by employers when an employee who sustains a workplace injury is put on leave and then is ready to return to work?
- What are the key components of a compliant and effective RTW program?
- How may other federal and state leave laws impact the development of an RTW program?
Faculty
Barret S. Albritton
Partner
Chartwell Law
Mr. Albritton brings over 20 years of experience representing and defending businesses, large self-insured... | Read More
Mr. Albritton brings over 20 years of experience representing and defending businesses, large self-insured organizations, insurance carriers, and employers in various general liability and casualty defense matters, workers’ compensation claims, and employment law and workplace-related issues. He is an experienced trial lawyer, represents clients in federal and state courts across Tennessee and the southeastern United States. Mr. Albritton has a multifaceted practice that includes many areas of litigation. In the area of general liability and casualty defense, he defends clients in professional negligence claims revolving around E&O liability, legal malpractice, and title company liability. Mr. Albritton is also accomplished in counseling secondary education institutions including various colleges and universities in risk management policies and procedures pertaining to general liability matters, specifically regarding sexual misconduct and Title IX litigation. In the area of tort litigation, his work includes automobile liability claims, contractor liability on large scale highway construction projects, contractor liability in residential construction, home inspectors’ liability in mold cases, medical device product liability for manufacturers and distributors, and product liability for large chain distribution centers.
Close
Brittany Atkinson
Partner
Chartwell Law LLP
Ms. Atkinson practices workers’ compensation litigation defense, representing insurance carriers, large... | Read More
Ms. Atkinson practices workers’ compensation litigation defense, representing insurance carriers, large self-insured businesses, and third-party administrators in all issues resulting from work-related injuries. She represents clients hailing from a variety of industries including retail, transportation, insurance, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, among others. Ms. Atkinson’s clients typically have operations that span across large regions or are spread throughout the nation. As a result, she has handled a myriad of cross-jurisdictional worker’s compensation matters affecting businesses with a wide breadth of locations. In addition, she defends clients in cases involving chemical exposure, jurisdictional questions, and employment issues. Ms. Atkinson is a published author and experienced presenter on various workers’ compensation matters.
Close
Adam T. Devine
Partner
Chartwell Law LLP
Mr. Devine defends self-insured employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators. He leverages his... | Read More
Mr. Devine defends self-insured employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators. He leverages his previous experience as a claimant-side attorney to represent his clients in the full lifecycle of compensation claims, including representation at hearings, settlement negotiations and depositions. Mr. Devine has appeared at most of the southern New York hearing locations and has developed strong relationships with the other professionals in the worker’s compensation field. Prior to joining the firm, he worked at a workers’ compensation plaintiff’s firm, where he handled the full spectrum of workers’ compensation matters.
Close
Courtney Pidani
Attorney
Chartwell Law LLP
Ms. Pidani represents insurers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators in all stages of workers’... | Read More
Ms. Pidani represents insurers, self-insured entities, and third-party administrators in all stages of workers’ compensation litigation. From intitial investigations and reviews of medical records through evidentiary hearings and appeals, she emphasises client communication and collaboration. Ms. Pidani has presented lectures and training sessions for clients as well as at continuing legal education programs.
Close