I'm here to help a business at Short Notice

Stephen from Glen Eden

I work with ACC clients who are returning to work after an injury.

ACC fully funds a "Work Trial" programme for these candidates.

What is a work trial?
A work trial is a short period of work experience completed as part of a client’s vocational rehabilitation programme.
A wide range of employers, large and small, offer work trials.

The goal of a work trial is to:

• give the client an opportunity to try out different job options and apply their work skills and abilities

• help the client re-establish work routines

• give the client an opportunity to develop new skills.

How will a work trial help employers?

There are several benefits you can get from participating in a work trial.

• It helps you assess how suitable a potential employee is for the job before you offer employment

• It helps to build a positive perception of your industry

• It signals to your staff and customers that you employ people on merit

• We can assist with your employee’s on-the-job training so they can start work sooner

• We can assist you with selecting suitable types of jobs a client can safely do in your workplace

• Recent research indicates that staff with disabilities take less sick leave and are often more productive than able-bodied employees.

Will I have to pay anything?

No. We’ll continue to pay the client weekly compensation so you won’t need to pay them any wages during the work trial.

Who decides what kind of jobs are suitable for a work trial?

We use professional occupational and medical assessors to help identify the types of jobs a client can do as a work trial. Jobs are chosen to suit the client’s current abilities and which they can safely do in your workplace to ensure the health and safety of themselves and others.

Will I get the opportunity to interview prospective candidates first?

Yes. To ensure the success of the work trial, it’s important that you’re involved in the selection process and are happy with the result.

Will I have to write a report?

The rehabilitation provider may ask you to provide written confirmation of:

• the client’s attendance record

• how well they did

• what their attitude was like.

What will my responsibilities be?

You will need to provide supervision and training to the client participating in the work trial.

Your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 remain the same whether the client is an employee or is in a place of work for the purpose of receiving on the job training or gaining work experience.

What are ACC’s responsibilities?

We’ll contract the services of a vocational rehabilitation supplier to liaise between you and the client undertaking the work trial.

A vocational rehabilitation professional will also visit your workplace to ensure the client is able to do their work duties safely.

What are the responsibilities of the rehabilitation provider?

The rehabilitation provider is responsible for matching suitable people to the work trial, monitoring the work trial and providing support where needed.

Will this affect my ACC levy charge?

No. Levies are set according to the cost of injuries in your industry group and the total payroll for your industry. If an ACC client suffers an injury or re-aggravation during the trial and is not on the payroll, your levy payment is not affected.

Who do I talk to if there are any problems?

The rehabilitation provider will liaise between you and the client undertaking the work trial to ensure everything runs smoothly. If there are any problems, you can raise these with the rehabilitation provider and they will discuss them with us to determine what action to take next.

Please email stephen.taylor@activeplus.co.nz if your business is able to host a fully funded Work Trial, at no cost to your business.