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Small employers: Have you lost a valued employee to a workplace injury? Now it's easier than ever to bring 'em back! That's because you can be reimbursed for purchases you make to bring that employee back, or keep them on the job, following an injury!

According to the RAND Corporation, a non-profit think tank, both employers and injured workers benefit when employees return to work quickly following a workplace injury. That's why the workers' comp reforms implemented in 2004 emphasized providing sound medical treatment and getting injured workers back to the job as soon as possible.

It's also why the state developed an incentive program to help small employers accomplish this goal. The California Division of Workers' Compensation's (DWC) Return-to-Work Reimbursement Program pays small employers up to $2,500 for expenses incurred making workplace modifications-such as purchasing equipment-to bring injured employees back, or keep them working, following an injury.

Any employer with fewer than 50 full-time employees, whose employee was injured on the job after July 1, 2004.

• Up to $1,250 for workplace modifications that bring your temporarily disabled employee back to work
• Up to $2,500 for workplace modifications that bring your permanently disabled employee back to work.

Reimbursement can be for any of the following expenses, provided they are prescribed by a physician or are reasonably required by work restrictions laid out in a medical report:

(1) Modification to the work site
(2) Equipment
(3) Furniture
(4) Tools
(5) Any other necessary costs reasonably required to accommodate your employee's restrictions.

Some examples of purchases the state has provided reimbursement for include:

• A platform and extended eyepiece for a biological analyst
• Custom knee pads for a tile setter
• A computer keyboard tray and document holder for an office administrator.

It's easy! Simply fill out, print and submit the "Request for Reimbursement of Accommodation Expenses" form within 90 calendar days of the date of the expenditure (the filing date may be extended if you show good cause). Don't forget to attach copies of the following to the form you submit. These are a must:

• Pertinent medical reports containing the work restrictions being accommodated
• Other documentation supporting the request, including:
  • The “Notice of Offer of Regular Work” form or the “Notice of Offer of Modified or Alternative Work” form
  • A “Payee Data Record” form must be on file with the California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) in order for the State Controller’s Office to issue payment
• All receipts for accommodation expenses.

Call (510) 286-6990 or email the Return to Work Reimbursement Program staff at DWCReturntoWork@dir.ca.gov.

Sloan Productions
Cryospec, Inc