Exploring effective uses of return-to-work practices as a strategy for reducing workers' compensation costs in public school districts in California

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of use of the 11 R. Hall and Kaleta (2005) return-to-work (RTW) strategies and the degree of importance of the 11 RTW strategies in reducing workers' compensation costs as perceived by California school district RTW coordinators in districts that operate an RTW program.;Methodology. This was a quantitative research project using a descriptive ex post facto research methodology. Forty-one California school district RTW coordinators were surveyed to determine their districts' degree of use and their perceptions of the importance of the RTW strategies in reducing workers' compensation costs.;Findings. Data collected from the RTW coordinators produced a number of major findings: (a) R. Hall and Kaleta's RTW strategies are being used to a great degree by the 41 California school districts in this study, (b) all 11 RTW strategies were seen as important in reducing workers' compensation costs, (c) "bringing back injured workers in a timely manner" and "providing an open line of communication among employees, coworkers, supervisors, health care providers, and benefits providers" were identified as the most used and the most important strategies in reducing workers' compensation costs, and (d) there was a statistically significant difference between the degree of use and the degree of importance in 10 of the 11 RTW strategies.;Conclusions. Mirroring private-sector employers, school districts participating in this study are using many of R. Hall and Kaleta's RTW strategies. In addition, RTW coordinators participating in this study identified all 11 RTW strategies as important in reducing workers' compensation costs. Because there was a statistically significant difference between the degree of use and the degree of perceived importance of R. Hall and Kaleta's RTW strategies in reducing workers' compensation costs, districts should incorporate the R. Hall and Kaleta RTW strategies into their RTW programs to reduce workers' compensation costs.;Recommendations. It is recommended that additional research be performed to determine if the findings from this study can be replicated in other settings, and to determine the actual reduction in workers' compensation costs associated with the R. Hall and Kaleta RTW strategies.