Rehabilitation responsibilities

Worker obligations

You need to be a willing participant in your rehabilitation and return to work, and must be prepared to do what your rehabilitation and return to work plan specifies. This means doing any suitable job offered by your boss, or taking reasonable steps to find another suitable job. It also includes not quitting a suitable job unless you have reasonable grounds.

If you're not sure of your obligations or would like more information, talk to your case manager.

What if I don't cooperate?

If you don't cooperate with your treating health professionals, refuse to participate in your rehabilitation or return to work plan, or participate in a way that frustrates the process, your weekly payments may be stopped.

You must actively participate and comply with the requirements of a rehabilitation and return to work plan. In addition you must:

• provide current WorkCover medical certificates, if requested
• undertake appropriate medical treatment
• return to a safe, suitable job as soon as you are fit to do so
• attend medical and rehabilitation appointments as arranged by your case manager or rehabilitation consultant.

If you fail to do any of these things your weekly payments of income maintenance may be stopped. This may also apply if you:

• refuse to undertake a suitable job
• refuse to take reasonable steps to find suitable employment
• unreasonably quit suitable employment
• act in a way that frustrates the rehabilitation process
• move overseas or to an isolated area without your case manager's consent, preventing rehabilitation.

Employer obligations

If you are assessed by your case manager as needing a rehabilitation and return to work plan, your boss must cooperate with this process. This means they must provide a suitable job or duties for you and must also carry out actions listed on the plan. If you have any concerns about the safety of your wokplace or your employer's cooperation with your recovery and return to work, discuss your views with your case manager as a priority. Your employer has certain legal obligations and must not dismiss you without first notifying your case manager.

What if my employer doesn't cooperate?

If your employer does not cooperate with the implementation of a rehabilitation and return to work plan, or fails to provide suitable employment, they may be charged a supplementary levy by WorkCover.