Intracorp Unveils New Partnership to Help Workers’ Comp, Long-Term Disability Customers

Intracorp has announced a new partnership with the Workers Transition Network (WTN) designed to help long-term disabled or injured workers return to productive employment through interim placements at not-for-profit agencies, while they search for a job in the competitive labor market. The WTN is a service of LewisCo Group, a company that specializes in absence management solutions.

“It’s difficult to return someone to work after they have been out on
disability for a considerable amount of time and for whom going back to their original job or employer is no longer an option,” said Fred Scardellette, vice president, Intracorp Marketing. “What’s often needed is something different from the traditional approach.”

How the program works
Intracorp assigns the worker a vocational counselor. The counselor coordinates the non-profit job with the WTN, guiding and supporting job search activities that will ultimately help to transition the individual into a new job.

An individual is placed in a volunteer position at a non-profit agency,
usually within the same geographic location as their home. The WTN has built relationships with various non-profit agencies throughout the country that are willing to accommodate these returning workers on an interim basis. The worker usually continues to receive workers’ comp wage loss benefits, or in some instances may receive a paid wage.

During the assignment, the non-profit’s standard work policies and practices apply. The employee’s attendance, behavior and performance are supervised and any issues are reported to their Intracorp vocational counselor. Their work schedule includes time for job searching and meetings with their vocational counselor.

According to Scardellette, the program works on several levels. “It
functions much like a ‘work strengthening’ program, which builds endurance and helps to prevent re-injury. Workers are engaged in a meaningful role during their recovery that allows them to re-enter the work force, adjust to normal work routines and interact with others in a work setting.”

Employees can begin to rebuild their employment history and restore work skills. Employers and insurance carriers can reportedly positively impact their workers’ comp costs by successfully closing claims that could have the potential for lifetime exposure, while helping to serve their community by providing skilled labor to non-profit agencies at no cost.

According to the WTN, injured or disabled workers who participate in the program are typically re-employed in new careers within six to eight months.

For more information, visit http://www.intracorp.com.