Workers Compensation
Recovery at work means staying at work in some capacity after an injury, using suitable duties to rebuild function. The SIRA injured at work guide is built on evidence that good work supports recovery.
What recovery at work means in the guide
The guide walks an injured worker through what to do after an injury and what to expect during recovery. It is grounded in research on the health benefits of good work: most injured workers take little or no time off, and of those who do, more than 80 per cent return to and recover at work within the first 13 weeks. The longer a worker is away, the less likely they are to ever return.
The first steps after an injury
The worker tells their employer as soon as possible, the employer provides insurer details and notifies the insurer within 48 hours, and the worker sees a doctor for a certificate of capacity. The insurer then assigns a claim number and contacts the worker, employer and, if needed, the doctor. The certificate of capacity should not cover more than 28 days, and keeping it current is what keeps weekly payments and treatment flowing.
The support team
Recovery is a managed, multidisciplinary process. The guide sets out each role: the insurer's case manager coordinates the claim, the doctor assesses capacity and treats, the employer provides suitable work, a workplace rehabilitation provider addresses barriers, and the worker takes an active part in their own recovery.
Identifying suitable work options
Employers are required by law to provide suitable work that matches current capacity and is as close to normal duties as possible. The guide lists ways duties can be offered:
- the same job with different hours
- modified duties
- a different job altogether
- a training opportunity
- work at the same or a different workplace
Physical, cognitive and environmental demands all need to be matched against the doctor's capacity assessment. The guide specifically notes that operating heavy machinery or driving should not be undertaken while taking certain medication.
The recover at work plan
The plan focuses on what the worker can do, not what they cannot. It records the suitable duties, hours, restrictions, any support such as equipment or training, and the steps to gradually progress toward usual work. It is reviewed regularly, and if it is not working the parties can arrange a case conference, workplace assessment, or a referral to a workplace rehabilitation provider.
Key Takeaways
- Recovery at work uses suitable duties to build capacity, with a return to the pre-injury job as the preferred goal.
- Most workers who take time off recover at work within the first 13 weeks.
- Employers must offer suitable work that matches current capacity and stays close to normal duties.
- The certificate of capacity is the central communication tool and should not cover more than 28 days.
- Certain duties are unsafe while a worker is taking particular medications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does recovery at work mean?
Recovery at work means staying at work in some capacity after an injury, using suitable duties to build and improve capacity over time. The preferred goal is a return to the pre-injury job, but modified duties, reduced hours or a different role can all support recovery.
What suitable work must an employer offer?
Employers are required by law to provide suitable work that matches the worker's current capacity and supports recovery, as close to the normal duties as possible. This can be the same job with different hours, modified duties, a different job, a training opportunity, or a combination.
How does a recover at work plan work?
A recover at work plan sets out the suitable duties, hours, restrictions and support, and the steps to gradually progress toward usual work. It is reviewed regularly and updated as capacity changes, with input from the worker, employer, doctor and insurer.
Primary source: State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), Injured at work: a recovery at work guide for workers, 2025.
