What is an Offer of Suitable Employment?
If the injured worker has some capacity for work, but cannot return fully to their normal role, the Return to Work Plan must include an Offer of Suitable Employment. An Offer of Suitable Employment is a written job offer based on duties the injured worker can do, taking into account the injured worker’s current work capacity and medical advice. These duties will need approval from the injured worker’s treating healthcare professional. Suitable employment could mean the injured worker does different duties to their normal work or that changes are made to equipment or tools they would normally use. It could mean the injured worker works reduced hours whilst they recover. Suitable employment usually consists of duties that have a relationship to the injured worker’s previous role and should be structured to accommodate an increase in duties as the injured worker’s health improves.
