An effective Return to Work (RTW) model for employees injured in motor vehicle accidents should allow faster recovery from trauma and resumption of work at minimal costs, the Finance & Development Planning Assistant Hon. Minister Dr. Gloria Somolokae has said. Dr. Somolokae said when properly planned and implemented, a successful RTW model not only saves the employer associated recruitment, training, replacement and post injury costs, but upholds employer benefits and organizational efficiency.
Officially opening the 2011 Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) RTW Conference and Workshop held in Gaborone on November 9, Dr. Somolokae said therefore RTW dispels employer misconceptions that huge resources are required to transform the work environment to accommodating people with reduced degrees of ability due to road crashes.
According to the Finance & Development Planning Assistant Minister, “Accommodating employees post injury or illness shows the existence of well-thought of and ideal organizational sustainability strategies, a highly motivated workforce and appreciation by the community at large. While to the injured party, the levels of psychosocial concerns related to the adverse effects of unemployment are reduced.
As the Conference brought together sister Funds from Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland, including international participants and other stakeholders, there was ample opportunity to explore the full benefits of effective injury management systems and rehabilitation, focusing on early recovery and resumption of duty and clearly defined world class RTW programmes for road traffic crash victims.
As long as we continue to have road traffic crashes, the challenges of work absenteeism, lost productivity negatively impacting the economy and permanent disability remain. If left unmanaged, the cost of prolonged recovery becomes unsustainable, may ultimately not benefit the injured person, seriously diminishing the chance of regaining functionality, over time. Since there is no substitute for effective injury prevention strategies, we should undertake our daily activities and management of our lives with minimum exposure to risk.
