How to Heal a Workplace

CHAPTER 9Prevention: The ‘recovery at work’ early intervention model

There are many reasons why, as leaders, we should seek to continuously improve the approach our workplace has towards its people. There are many things that we can do to improve things in our own workplaces, but there are also some systemic changes that would be beneficial to adopt in workplaces around the globe.

Recovery at work model

In terms of lost work time, psychological injuries result in the longest time off work, and they are the most costly injuries. In addition, many employees who suffer physical injuries (either from their work or personally) have their recovery negatively impacted by the inevitable psychological stress that results from feelings of physical pain, in addition to the shame of being injured and the disconnection from the workplace. Any physical therapist will tell you that stress prolongs recovery due to the complex neurobiological responses that traumatic experiences create in our bodies.

Stress increases inflammation in the body and prolongs recovery due to our complex neurobiological response to trauma

Employers are conflicted about how to support employees to recover because of the perceived conflict between the medical practitioners assessment of the employee's work capacity and the resulting legal obligation on the employer. We need to balance the needs of the employee to recover by providing the right support to facilitate it.

Much of the perceived conflict can be ...