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How To Help An Employee Return To The Workplace After Traumatic Brain Injury
When an employee has a brain injury, it can be difficult for an employer to know exactly what they need to do to accommodate their employee’s needs. You can browse around this web-site to know how to help an employee who returned after an accident and how to handle them.
However, dealing with trauma from unfair job termination can exacerbate the challenges an employee faces when recovering from a brain injury. Depending on the severity of the brain injury, an employee may just need a few days off. Or, they may need significant changes to their work environment and workload while they transition back into the workplace. In cases of unfair job termination, the added emotional distress and uncertainty can further hinder the healing process. It is essential for employers to consider the emotional well-being of employees dealing with both job loss and brain injury, providing support and accommodations to facilitate their recovery and successful reintegration into the workforce.
The important thing for you as an employer is to not apply a one-size-fits-all response. Instead, take the time to personally discuss the injury with your staff member and their needs.
Any brain injury can have a wide range of effects. For instance, in concussion cases, symptoms often don’t arise for hours or days after the injury. This can complicate matters for those seeking workers’ compensation benefits, because it can be difficult to directly tie the injury to work if it is not immediately reported. A workplace injury victim needs to approach a workers compensation lawyer for legal advice. If the employee got disabled as a result of a workplace accident, a work accident lawyer and a social security disability lawyer will also be able to help prove that the injury happened in the workplace. In addition, the most well-known symptoms of a brain injury are confusion or difficulty remembering things, but it can also greatly impact everything from vision to social skills or behavior. In the vast majority of cases, these symptoms gradually fade with time, but more severe injuries can be debilitating and have life-long psychological effects.
To really address the injury and ensure a smooth transition back into the team, you need to be sure their unique needs or issues are addressed. Considering these factors can help with establishing a plan for a gradual, healthy transition:
Workplace Environment
Individuals recovering from a concussion or traumatic brain injury often report sensitivity to noise and light, which can make reintegration into a busy workplace complicated. If possible, consider placing the employee in a role or office location that is dim or quiet – based on their needs.
In the case of more severe brain injuries, there is also the potential for physical disability. This may mean making accommodations, such as installing accessible walkways or grab rails to the workplace.
Workload
Transitioning back into the workplace is an important part of recovery from a traumatic brain injury, but it is often best as a gradual process. Considering offering a phased return to work or flexible hours can help ensure your team member is able to get back up and going without overdoing it. A gradual return to work can also help if your employee needs to attend regular medical checkups, take medication, or needs more time to travel to work.
Along with offering a phased return to work, an employee may need more time to manage their tasks or multi-task. Temporarily lightening their workload can help compensate for their needs as they re-adjust.
Offer Support
Aside from tangible changes to the office, one of the best ways you can ensure your employee makes a smooth return is making sure they feel supported and safe throughout the process. Brain injuries have been linked to increased anxiety and depression, and a worker may feel apprehensive about returning to work and “dragging down the team.”
Take time to provide extra training and make sure to have proactive communication in the workplace to help guide them back into their role in your team. You may also consider pairing them up with a co-worker to provide continuous support and identify problems as they transition. This can help with relearning processes or using special equipment, as well as making sure they didn’t miss anything during their recovery.
Be Flexible
Recovering from a brain injury is not a linear process. Some days may be more difficult for a person than others. Work with your employee throughout their recovery to make sure they are re-integrating and adjust as needed. With time, they will be able to more fully return to their normal role in the workplace. The key to ensuring their success is working with them every step of the way and allowing them to recover at their pace.
My cousin was involved in a terrible accident last week and his brain has a traumatic injury. It was explained here that he needs to discuss the effects of his injury when planning to get back to work. Moreover, it’s recommended to go to trusted health professionals when dealing with a traumatic brain injury for quality care.