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Injured workers risk disengaging when modified duty is unavailable

The article argues return-to-work outcomes depend heavily on what happens in the first months, when most workers resume work and longer disconnection can reduce confidence and make claims harder to move forward.

Reported · Written up by our desk · Health Insurance

Risk & Insurance highlights a “return-to-work gap” that appears after an injured employee is medically cleared but there is no meaningful modified duty available at work. It says the problem often stems from roles that do not adapt to restrictions or workplaces that lack the structure to accommodate them.

According to the piece, when workers have no clear next step, short absences can quickly become weeks or months away. It adds that disengagement can be physical but also behavioral and psychological, weakening routine and confidence as time away increases.

The article notes that most workers who return to work do so within the first several months after injury, with progress typically fastest early on. It warns that as a claim stretches toward a year, the likelihood of return drops significantly and the risk of long-term absence rises.

Risk & Insurance argues many programs treat return to work as a goal but do not protect that early window where outcomes are decided. The article says structured, return-to-work-type activity during recovery can help maintain routine, reinforce purpose, and keep workers mentally connected to the idea of returning.

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