The personal injury department at law firm JMW has released a visual guide to raise awareness of how an employee that has suffered a head injury may come back to work.
JMW hopes that this will highlight the need for employees to be able to discuss any issues they may be having upon returning to work
Paul Breen, head of JMW’s catastrophic injuries team, said:
“Returning to work is a key part of the recovery process for many people who have sustained a head injury and it is vital that employers understand what support they can provide if one of their workers suffers a head injury.
“Sadly, in my experience, there is still a general nervousness on both sides when it comes to discussing mental health issues. Employees are afraid to talk about the impact a head injury has had on their ability to work for fear of being misunderstood or patronised. Employers, on the other hand, are reluctant to ask questions for fear of saying the wrong thing. Allowing time to talk to the individual about their specific injury and the impact it is having on what they can and can’t do is a great starting point.
“Without appropriate assistance, individuals can quickly become overwhelmed and may be unable to cope; a disaster for both the employee and employer. An open dialogue between employees and employers can make all the difference and ensure that the right adjustments are made, whether this is a reduction or increased flexibility in working hours, a change of role or putting different support structures in place to ensure that the person is treated fairly.”