Key points

• Work-related injuries can cause physical, emotional, and financial challenges.

• Staying in contact with your employer during recovery is essential for job security and a smooth return. 

• Lack of communication may lead to misunderstandings, job uncertainty, or strained relationships. 

• Regular updates show your commitment and help maintain a positive employer connection.

• Keeping your employer informed helps them plan for your return and any needed work adjustments. 

• Share updates on your health, work capacity, and any medical restrictions. 

• Active+ supports injured workers through their ACC vocational rehabilitation services, helping them to achieve a structured and sustainable return to work after injury. 

Workplace injuries can be challenging to navigate 

Work-related injuries can have a serious impact on your life.  Beyond the physical and emotional strain, injured workers often face challenges such as medical expenses, navigating compensation claims, and strained communication with their employers.  In the middle of it all, one important, but overlooked, step is staying in touch with your employer. 

You might wonder, is it truly necessary to keep your employer updated once your recovery begins?  The answer is yes.  Consistent communication is key to protecting your job, supporting your recovery, and ensuring a smoother return to work after an injury. 

So, let's look at why it's absolutely essential to maintain communication with your employer throughout your recovery. 

Why communicating with your employer matters

After a workplace injury, your doctor or medical provider might assign certain work restrictions.  
 
This could mean being away from your job while focusing on recovery.  During this time, most of your interactions may be with medical professionals or insurance representatives, not your employer. 

However, this lack of direct communication can lead to confusion. Important updates may not reach your employer, leaving them unaware of your condition, your work capabilities, or your willingness to return. 

That’s why it’s important to keep your employer informed, even if it's just a quick update. 

The risks of not communicating with your employer 

It’s understandable that workers, while they’re focused on recovery, can go weeks or months without updating their employer.  The trouble is, this can lead to complications that start to add an emotional or psychological burden to the process.  Things like: 

• It may appear that you’re no longer interested in your job. 

• Your employer may not know your current health status or future intentions. 

• You may feel unsure about your job status or whether your role is still secure. 

• It can create the impression that you’re using the injury to avoid work, even if that’s not the case. 

To avoid these unnecessary issues, it’s a good idea to update your employer regularly on your condition, work capacity, and estimated return date. 

The benefits of keeping your employer informed

Maintaining open communication with your employer offers several advantages during your recovery and helps pave the way for your return to work after an injury: 

• Preserves a good relationship:  Regular updates help maintain a positive, professional connection. 

• Demonstrates your commitment:  Staying in touch shows that you care about your role and intend to return. 

• Keeps you top of mind:  Regular communication ensures your employer hasn’t forgotten about you or assumed you’ve moved on. 

• Facilitates planning for your return:  If you’ll be coming back under modified duties, your employer needs time and clear details to prepare the necessary accommodations. 

Ways you can keep your employer informed include:

• Providing updated work status reports. 

• Notifying them about your anticipated return date, if known. 

• Sharing details of any medical restrictions or limitations on your work capacity. 

• Proactively initiating meaningful work tasks that get you back into work sooner and help with your rehab at work). 

These details give your employer the information they need to assess your situation and make reasonable adjustments, if possible. 

Conclusion 

Recovering from a work-related injury is challenging, but maintaining strong communication with your employer can make the process much smoother. It helps protect your position, supports your recovery, and ensures a more organised return to work after an injury. 

Keep your employer updated on how you're progressing, when you hope to return, and whether you require any changes to your work conditions. This kind of communication benefits both you and your employer, reducing confusion and building mutual trust. 

If you’re having trouble with your employer, or if they are unresponsive/unwilling to cooperate, your dedicated occupational health therapist (physio or OT) ca help under an ACC funded SAW service. They can help navigate some of those challenges alongside ACC case managers to help get clarity on the employers' role, responsibility and obligation in supporting workers back into meaningful work.   

How Active+ can support your return to work  

Active+ delivers the Stay at Work service, providing essential support for employees returning to their existing roles – and we’re proudly one of the largest providers across our nationwide network. Through this service, an occupational health therapist works closely with your employer, GP, and wider healthcare team to develop a safe and effective return-to-work plan.   
 
This includes coordinating an appropriate medical certificate to support rehabilitation in the workplace. Additionally, physiotherapists may be involved in physical rehabilitation, helping employees regain the strength and mobility needed for their job, ensuring a secure and successful return.    

Click here to learn more about our Return To Work service.