A lot of people assume the choices after a work injury are "off work" or "back to full duties." In practice there is often a middle ground, and it is worth understanding before you are asked to decide.
If you are earlier in the process, start with our guide to the first steps after a workplace injury.
What modified work means
WCB defines modified work as a change in job duties that can allow you to return to work while recovering, which gives you the chance to stay active and keep contributing to your workplace. Examples WCB gives on its employer page include lighter lifting, or a stool so a worker can alternate between sitting and standing.
Modified work isn't meant to make your symptoms worse. It should reflect what you can safely do right now and be adjusted as your recovery progresses.
Who is involved in your return to work
Your return to work is a collaborative process involving you, your physiotherapist, your doctor, your employer, and your WCB case manager. Your physiotherapist assesses your physical abilities, symptoms, functional limitations, and how you are progressing, then works with the rest of your care team to determine what duties you can safely perform.
Your physiotherapist can provide recommendations for modified or alternate duties based on your current abilities, while your employer helps determine what suitable work is available. Your WCB case manager supports and coordinates the claim and works with everyone involved to help establish an appropriate return-to-work plan.
As your recovery progresses, your abilities and work recommendations may change. Your physiotherapist will continue to assess your progress and communicate recommendations to help ensure your duties remain appropriate and safe.
What your employer is responsible for
WCB's worker handbook says that when an injury happens, your employer is responsible under legislation to offer you modified work when it is safe for you to return. In most cases, an employer must also hold your job for you while you recover if you have been with them for over a year.
These are WCB's general statements. If you have a specific situation, such as a disagreement with your employer about duties or timing, call WCB. Your case manager is the right contact.
Where physiotherapy helps
Pain is only part of the picture. A physiotherapist can look at what your job actually asks of you and work backward from there. Depending on the injury, that may include:
identifying which job tasks are aggravating your symptoms, such as lifting, reaching overhead, or long periods of standing
building strength, mobility, and endurance gradually toward those tasks
pacing and movement-break strategies if you are working modified duties while still sore
explaining what activity is reasonable at each stage, so you are not guessing
No one can promise how fast this goes. It depends on the injury, how long it has been present, your job demands, and your overall health.
Help your physiotherapist help you
Tell your physiotherapist what your job involves in specific terms: how much you lift, how often you reach overhead, how long you stand, and whether you drive or climb. WCB uses a physical demands analysis form to help the treating physician understand the physical requirements of a particular job, and employers can send it to the case manager. The more specific your description, the more specific the plan can be.
For employers
WCB encourages employers to plan modified work before an injury happens: identify modified work opportunities in advance, ask workers for ideas, and put a policy in writing. WCB also says that if you find it hard to identify modified work, you can call them, and they can arrange for a rehabilitation therapist to come to your job site.
If you are an employer with an injured worker in treatment, the most useful thing you can usually do is stay in contact with the worker and the WCB case manager.
When to get re-assessed
Tell your doctor, physiotherapist, and case manager if modified duties are making your symptoms clearly worse, if new symptoms appear, or if you cannot do the duties you were given. Do not push through worsening pain to avoid a conversation. Seek urgent care for new weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
Learn more about our workplace injury and WCB physiotherapy services, or contact the clinic to talk about your return-to-work needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I go back to work before I am fully recovered?
Often yes, with modified duties, if your health care providers and WCB agree it is safe. Many people return in stages.
What if my employer cannot offer modified work?
Tell your WCB case manager. They work with you and your employer on return-to-work options.
Will physiotherapy get me back to my old job?
Physiotherapy aims to improve your movement, strength, and tolerance for work tasks. Nobody can promise a particular result or timeline, because every injury and job is different.
Does the clinic decide when I can return to work?
Your physiotherapist plays an important role in determining what you are physically ready to do at work. We assess your capacity and provide recommendations based on your recovery, while working with your WCB case manager, doctor, and employer to put an appropriate return-to-work plan in place.
Is this the same as an MVA or personal insurance claim?
No. This post is about WCB workplace claims. Other claim types have their own rules.