In the 90s, the U.S. Department of Labor called carpal tunnel syndrome the “chief occupational hazard” of the decade. We expect tools and equipment to help save time. To make our work easier. But we have learned these “improvements” can also harm us. They force our bodies into unnatural positions. That puts too much stress on our muscles, tendons and skeleton. Over time, repetitive and awkward movements cause damage. 

Post offer employment testing (POET) improves hiring quality for companies in many industries. But you cannot use just any test. And you cannot pick and choose who takes your test. Equal Opportunity laws dictate these things. You don’t want to run afoul of the law. In this article we look at the potential pitfalls of POET. We’ll also explain how you can avoid these potential problems.

Rehabilitation is the process of returning something to its original condition. The word literally means “make fit again.” When it comes to workers’ comp injuries, the terms rehab and physical therapy are sometimes used interchangeably. But they do have different meanings.

In our last blog article, we talked about where to find pre-employment screening services. Choosing the right person to perform the screening is just as important. Lisa Quast is a career consultant with a background in HR. She warns, "Because employment tests are periodically challenged in court, employers must make sure tests do not violate federal, state, or local EEOC laws, including Title VII." Tweet this quote.

The sooner injured workers return to work, the lower your workers’ compensation costs. Obviously you want to close workers’ comp claims as quickly as possible. But you won’t save time or money if employees aren’t fit for duty when they return. Outpatient therapy performed on-site, at work, provides faster claims processing and better results.

A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) test is a broad assessment of an individual’s ability to perform work-related movements and/or tasks.

Many people who require physical therapy are victims of an accident or a stroke. For them, functional physical therapy is designed to improve a broad range “lifestyle” capabilities. When it comes to injured workers, though, functional physical therapy goals must be job-related. The overall goal is returning to work.

On-the-job injuries happen. Everyone’s goal is getting your worker back to pre-injury status – and back to work – as soon as possible. But physical therapy goals may not seem reasonable. In that case your injured worker may not take them seriously. Why bother, if results appear unattainable? To be reasonable, functional physical therapy goals must be custom-tailored to each employee.