Articles

This page lists all practical and feature articles available on RTWMatters. From top ten tips, how to guides and case studies, through to webinar recordings and video interviews with industry experts.

Click the ‘Topics’ button below to drill down into all articles and research updates on your topic of interest.

Click the ‘Quick Guides’ button for practical bit sized guides that give you a sound basic knowledge base.

Conflict Cookie #3: Managing conflict

contributorGabrielle Lis

It's a waste to sweep cookie crumbs under the carpet, and the same goes for conflict. Don't...

Gluttons for punishment? Talking work and psychosis at Mind

contributorGabrielle Lis

Ever wondered what it might be like to work with a mental illness, let alone return to work...

Returning to work? Ten tips to help you survive the system!

contributorGabrielle Lis

Getting back to work after illness or injury can be daunting. Stick to our top ten, however, and...

Zeroing in on risky business: Hazard assessment and musculoskeletal disorders

contributorGabrielle Lis

We take a look at the non physical work factors that contribute to musculoskeletal disorders

CONFLICT COOKIE #2 Recognising conflict

contributorGabrielle Lis

Recognising conflict BEFORE you trip over it is essential for managing successful return to work.

Small business, big problems?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Smaller businesses don't necessarily have fewer problems with return to work - simply different...

Let's get ethical, ethical

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A code of ethics would have helped former return to work coordinator 'Layla' to educate injured...

Top ten easy steps for improving workplace culture

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Good workplace culture fosters loyal employees who want to remain at their workplace.

Good RTW ain't easy - but boy is it worth it

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Work can't stop when results improve. In this interview with an Injury Management specialist, we...

Conflict Cookie #1: What kinds of conflict happen in the workplace?

contributorGabrielle Lis

Remember how your mum taught you to turn lemons into lemonade? In this series of bite-sized...

You don't have to bend over backwards to benefit from workplace flexibility

contributorGabrielle Lis

Employers don't have to bend over backwards to reduce absenteeism and improve productivity. Just...

What's more painful than chronic pain? Chronic pain in 'The System'

contributorGabrielle Lis

Workers' comp and RTW systems can exacerbate chronic pain, but as Coralie Wales from Chronic...

KPI vs care - which is winning?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A process-driven acrimonious workers' compensation system is a dark place - let's shed some...

Top ten tips for dealing with the Doc

contributorGabrielle Lis and Dr Mary Wyatt

Is "bad medicine" delaying RTW at your organisation? This top ten will help sweeten your...

On the clock and over the hill? Ageing workers in physical industries

contributorGabrielle Lis

We can't turn back the clock, but we can offer advice on how to minimise the impact of age on...

Backing up case management with software

contributorPaul Eastman

Intuition Software's Paul Eastman gets technical, explaining the ins and outs of an underused...

Top ten tips for super smooth supervising of RTW

contributorGabrielle Lis

Supervising return to work ain't easy...unless you've read our latest top ten!

Helping those who help

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Vicarious trauma, supporting staff dealing with traumatic situations.

Top ten tips to keep you on track when managing a stress claim.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

To help an employee return to work after a stress claim, our ten tips start with proactivity and...

Let's introduce mental health first aiders in the workplace.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Want some questions about depression at work answered? Check out our interview with Dr Fehmidah...

Diamond discovered while down in the dumps about return to work.

contributorGabrielle Lis

A new UK report finds that RTW depression is widespread, even when physical illness is the...

Early intervention and good communication: everyone's responsibilities. The top points from the Dr William Shaw interview.

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Take a look at the ten main points to emerge from RTW Matters' interview with Dr William Shaw...

Returning to work in the Netherlands: a different approach

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Dutch occupational physician Frederieke Schaafsma describes a new Netherlands system of return...

Top ten tips for preventing long term claims

contributorGabrielle Lis

Changes to your injury management system can help reduce claim duration.

The Return to Work Coordinators' Code of Ethics

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

After return to work coordinators expressed to us a lack of formal guidance in their role as...

How to be a trauma-ready employer

contributorGabrielle Lis

We talk trauma, recovery in the workplace and PTSD with Professor Mark Creamer from the...

What is the value of research?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

A look at why money spent on researching health is money spent well.

Top ten tips to help employees with depression

contributorGabrielle Lis

Productive employment probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of...

A sneak peak at some ground-breaking research

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Dr William Shaw takes us behind the (research) scenes at Liberty Mutual in the US.

Coping after a traumatic event

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Techniques to cope with the emotional and physical symptoms of experiencing a traumatic event.

Top ten tips for preventing stress in your workplace

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace? Prevent it from ever occurring! Our...

Business as usual: Managing RTW and psychiatric disability

contributorGabrielle Lis

Dr Geoffrey Waghorn tells us about the importance of employment for people with severe mental...

Case Study: When return to work fails

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

This case study looks at a young man with a long career ahead of him and the reasons he will...

Test: retaining your best employees

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Take this test to see if you or your employees are feeling how they ought to in the workplace....

What is evidence based medicine and why do we need it?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

What does "evidence based medicine" refer to exactly, and why should we care to know?

The negative potential of performance bonuses

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

In the second part of RTW Matters' interview with Occupational Therapist Kate Roylance, she...

Finding the middle ground

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Occupational therapist Kate Roylance was very surprised that many of you responded that...

Returning to work after injury

contributorJennifer Goode

A positive story of a long road back to a better life.

Habitat at Work (New Zealand)

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

Web based self assessment & exercise tool

Occupational health - what's age got to do with it?

contributorAnna Kelsey-Sugg

For men and women entrance to mid-life will affect them - at home and at work - in different...