Return to Work PAYS!


Did you know a portion of your workers’ compensation premiums are used to pay for the Stay at Work (SAW) program? Stay at Work is a financial program administered by Labor and Industries that incentivizes employers to bring their injured workers back to light-duty or transitional work as soon as possible


Return to Work (RTW) – Know the Benefits

“How can I reduce my workers’ compensation costs in Washington” is one of the most frequently asked questions we get from employers. One of the best strategies to reduce costs is to return injured employees to work as soon as possible, which helps reduce or eliminate Labor and Industries paying time-loss on claims. We focus so much on reducing time-loss because it is one of the most expensive components of a claim and taking control of time-loss has many benefits including:

  • Protecting rates
  • Closing claims faster
  • Limiting Kept on Salary expenses
  • Better outcomes for injured workers

Protect yourself by making sure that your RTW efforts include both legal protection—by using a reasonably continuous job offer letter—and the correct documentation for a SAW reimbursement. ERNwest is here to help. Contact us today if you would like more information.

Stay at Work (SAW) Reimbursements – Get Paid for RTW

If you have brought an employee back to light duty, you now could be eligible for SAW reimbursements through Labor and Industries. They pay 50% of base wages, up to $10,000 or 66 days, and reimburse for necessary tools, equipment and training. For additional help, ERNwest provides a service for our employers that helps coordinate the necessary paperwork and complete the necessary forms for L&I.

Utilizing the Stay at Work program is a no-brainer for our company and a part of our Return to Work process. We are getting a substantial SAW reimbursement back—last year alone being $30,000—which is great for our bottom line and well worth the minimal effort we put in.

— Wendy Schwartznau, Northwest Door LLC

Helpful Links

If you want to know more about utilizing the program.

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