Workplace facilitated discussion

Workplace facilitated discussion (WFD) is a meeting conducted by a third party to resolve workplace conflict and assist injured people with their recovery at work.

The discussion takes place in a supported environment to help the injured person and their employer agree on a course of action for a healthy and safe return to work.

This service is delivered by a workplace rehabilitation provider. The provider will appoint a facilitator who is appropriately qualified to moderate the discussions.

The parties generally involved in a workplace facilitated discussion can include the:

injured person
employer
co-worker or line supervisor
treating health practitioner(s) (if desired).

Participation is voluntary for all parties.

Independent mediation can help to resolve issues in the workplace and support injured people returning to work as part of their treatment.

^{(Bingham 2004; Bingham and Novac, 2001; Brett, Barsness, & Goldberg, 1996).}

When is workplace facilitated discussion suitable?

Workplace facilitated discussion can be helpful in situations where people in the workplace do not agree with each other and find it difficult to maintain a workable relationship. This may include:

The injured person is reportedly experiencing bullying or harassment from a co-worker or manager.
There are working or communication style differences.
There are change management situations.
Issues have arisen from job or role demarcation.

While workplace facilitated discussion can be used for any workers compensation or CTP claim where there is a workplace relationship issue, it can be particularly helpful in psychological claims as a result of bullying, harassment, work pressure or interpersonal conflict.

Meeting location

The meetings may occur face to face, at the workplace rehabilitation provider’s office, the injured person’s workplace, or remotely via phone or video chat.

The location of the meeting should be agreed to by all parties.

Meeting stages

Stage 1 - individual meetings

The facilitator arranges individual meetings with all relevant parties including treating health practitioners (if required). This enables the facilitator to understand the issues that are impacting the injured person’s recovery at work.

Sometimes only individual meetings are needed. In this case, the facilitator will develop an action plan and provide this to all parties.

Stage 2 - workplace facilitated discussion meeting

The workplace facilitated discussion meeting brings together all relevant parties who have agreed to attend. This meeting aims to identify practical solutions and reach mutual agreement on an action plan.

Prior to the workplace facilitated discussion, the facilitator may require all parties to agree to ground rules. These may include:

What information can be disclosed outside the discussion, including that no information can be disclosed.
Whether the support person can participate in the discussion.
Requiring the participants to be respectful, promote cooperation and work hard to understand others’ interests.
Requiring the participants to remain positive in their intent, be constructive and focused on solutions.

The facilitator should develop an agreed action plan with the injured person, employer and involved parties in attendance.

This plan should outline the actions and agreed time frames and a copy be provided to all the parties, plus the insurer.

The facilitator may also contact the parties later to determine that the agreed plan is being actioned.

Requesting a workplace facilitated discussion

Injured worker

If you have a workplace relationship issue with your employer while you are recovering at work, talk to the insurer case manager, nominated treating doctor, or workplace rehabilitation provider to let them know the issues you are experiencing.

The insurer case manager may speak with you to see if a workplace facilitated discussion may help. If you agree to participate, the insurer will make a referral to a workplace rehabilitation provider who is approved to deliver workplace facilitated discussion.

Your agreement will be obtained by the provider’s facilitator to participate in an individual meeting in preparation for the workplace facilitated discussion.

Employer

If you have a workplace relationship issue with an employee while they are recovering at work, talk to the insurer case manager or workplace rehabilitation provider to let them know the issues.

Agreement will be obtained by the facilitator for you and other parties to participate in the individual meeting prior to participating in a workplace facilitated discussion.

Health care provider

If an injured person you treating is having a workplace relationship issue while they are recovering at work, you can raise the issue with the insurer case manager.

They may speak with you to help determine if a workplace facilitated discussion could help. If the parties agree to participate, the insurer will make a referral to a workplace rehabilitation provider who can deliver workplace facilitated discussion.

Costs and travel

Treating health practitioners attending a workplace facilitated discussion can bill for their time using the relevant SIRA case conference code.

Travel to attend can be charged using the SIRA payment classification code and fee for travel.

Please refer to the relevant health practitioner fees order for more detail.

Support person

The injured person can bring a support person. The support person may be a:

friend or relative
co-worker or reporting manager
union delegate.

Where a support person is involved, the facilitator should obtain agreement from all parties for the support person to attend.

Costs of the service

The costs involved in the workplace facilitated discussion service being delivered by a workplace rehabilitation provider are covered as a claim cost.

WFD information postcard

If you are experiencing a workplace relationship issue while recovering at work, information about workplace facilitated discussions is also available in a digital postcard below, including various community language translations.