The workers’ compensation system in Illinois is there for you when you receive a workplace injury, but you may have an entitlement to more than just coverage for your medical bills. State law could also help you return to the workforce in a different job.
Your injury might make it impossible to resume your current occupation. However, with vocational rehabilitation, you have an opportunity to rebuild your work skills and gain new knowledge to find work you can handle given your current state of health.
The definition of vocational rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation is a program designed to assist workers who have sustained work injuries or suffer from an occupational illness to return to gainful employment. It aims to help employees overcome the physical and psychological barriers caused by their injuries. This process ensures that they can continue to support themselves and their families.
Vocational rehabilitation services
The steps you take through vocational rehabilitation begin with assessing your skills, interests and physical capabilities to find suitable jobs for you. Following your assessment, you proceed to job training, allowing you to acquire new skills that match your abilities and interests. This will help you qualify for more jobs.
With your new skills, state services can help place you in a job. You may receive assistance building your resume so employers will find you a more attractive candidate. If needed, counseling can provide emotional support to help you cope with the psychological aspects of your injury and returning to the workforce.
A frequently cited statistic from the Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that workers who have sustained an injury only have a 50% chance of getting back to some kind of work following a six-month period. Utilizing any state services that are available to you can help you avoid perpetual unemployment.
