Your role in return-to-work planning & return-to-work options

Assisting your worker rejoin the workforce, even before they are able to perform full duties, is proven to help their rehabilitation. Modified work gets your worker back to the worksite where he or she is able to contribute and regain independence. You don't need a formal plan in place to get started.

The following steps are recommended to assist you in getting an injured worker back to work. In each step, we have provided one or more sample forms that you can use, or adapt to your particular circumstances.

1. Request a Fitness for Work form (pdf, 30KB) be completed by the treating physician, and/or provide your worker with a copy of the description of the physical requirements of the job, for both the current job duties and proposed modified duties. Physical Demands Analysis form (pdf, 182KB)
2. Encourage your worker to discuss modified work options with his or her treating physician and obtain medical support to participate in either modified work or a return to full duties.
3. Review the Fitness for Work form (pdf, 30KB) to determine if your worker can start modified work.
4. Complete a written Offer of Modified Work (pdf, 23KB) agreement for your worker to sign. This agreement provides details on the type of modified work, duration, hours of work, and rate of pay to ensure you and your worker have the same understanding of duties.
5. Send all forms to WCB-Alberta, and communicate any progress, problems or return to full duties to WCB-Alberta.

Modified work is a simple, cost-effective way to support your workers and lower claim costs. To create a modified work program, contact your safety or industry association or WCB-Alberta for help.

Learn how to make the return-to-work process even easier by creating a formalized modified work program for your business.