Effective return-to-work programs create shared value: they improve health and wellbeing for injured workers, while also reducing claim costs and supporting workforce productivity. Evaluating their impact is essential to ensure these benefits are realised and sustained.
DXC’s Employment Care Coordination Program is a voluntary, opt-in program designed to support injured workers in returning to work by addressing their life challenges during their program participation. ISCRR conducted an evaluation of this program.
ISCRR found that 57 per cent of injured workers were satisfied with the program, and more than a third reported that the program assisted them to return to work and improved their overall wellbeing. They appreciated the practical guidance in job seeking and moral support from the coordinators, particularly with those who had faced similar challenges and experiences.
“The coordinator was very helpful and also helped me to stay positive especially when it got difficult and frustrating when job knockbacks came.” – Survey participant #4
Factors contributing to the program’s success included effective matching between the coordinator and the injured worker, promoting the injured worker’s skills and capabilities to potential employers through reverse marketing, and the injured worker’s self-motivation.
Opportunities to improve the program were also identified, and a list of considerations for the program to be expanded and upscaled were provided to aid WorkSafe Victoria’s decision-making.