Seattle, WA: 206-521-5676 Olympia, WA: 360-236-8748 Portland/Salem, OR: 503-768-9742 Info@SolutionsNW.com
The Benefits of Vocational Evaluation and Vocational Testing

The Benefits of Vocational Evaluation and Vocational Testing

The Benefits of Vocational Evaluation and Vocational Testing

The Benefits of Vocational Evaluation and Vocational TestingContact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washington

‍Vocational testing is used in the workplace for a variety of reasons. Commonly, vocational assessments are used to determine a worker’s skillset and how best to place or train the worker. They are also used to evaluate injured workers and decide if they may benefit from retraining or new job placement to work around an injury.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of using vocational evaluations in the workplace.

Vocational Evaluations Provide Data About an Employee’s Abilities

One important reason to perform a vocational evaluation or vocational testing is to provide data about a worker’s abilities. They are also useful for planning for future workplace training and accommodating employees with special needs.

It can give you a new perspective on worker abilities. It can also help identify areas in which employees could use some help for future success at work.

Vocational Evaluations Help Employers Re-evaluate Employee Abilities

Another reason to perform a vocational evaluation or assessment is to help re-evaluate what people already know. It is important to re-evaluate skills and abilities. This is so that your employees don’t become too relaxed in improving their skill sets.

It can also help ensure that your employees are on track for future goals and paths.

Vocational Assessments Help Identify an Employee’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Identifying your employee’s strengths and weaknesses is also important. Many workplaces conduct vocational assessments or vocational evaluations during several phases of work production.

Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle WashingtonYou will likely have a good idea of your employee’s strengths and weaknesses based on your knowledge and observations. But having data can help you feel more confident in your decisions.

Whether you are evaluating your employee’s interests or skills, you can use the results to guide your future decisions.

You can use the information to customize the work environment. This is so it addresses your employee’s strengths and weaknesses.

Vocational Assessments for Injured Employees

vocational assessment is also useful to evaluate whether a worker is fit to return to work after an injury.  In a case of personal injury, assessments screen for physical abilities and limitations. After a long-term disability, employees can also undergo a vocational assessment.  This will aid in guiding their return.

Insight into workers’ compensation is an essential function of vocational assessments. The results will offer a clear, forthright view of the extent of injuries, potential recovery time, and limitations and outlook on job performance.

Combining Scores from Different Assessments Improves Understanding of Learning Needs

You may read about the benefits of vocational testing, but you may not be aware that it’s used to combine scores from different assessments.

A common way that vocational testing is used is to combine scores from several assessments to create one composite score.

Vocational testing can also be used to create a portfolio of your employee’s work.

Learn More About Vocational Evaluations and Vocational Testing with Solutions Northwest Inc.

Vocational testing is a common part of workplace testing for employees. It can help you gain a better understanding of your employee’s abilities and identify areas for growth.

Vocational testing can be used to for workplace injury, worker’s compensation claims, or to signify what would be the best placement for an employee. It is important to remember that vocational testing can also be used to create a composite score. This can help improve understanding of learning needs.

If you’re ready to take the next step or learn more about vocational testing, contact Solutions Northwest Inc.

Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, family law and can provide vocational expert witness testimony.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Contact our Vocational Consultants

4 Tips for Effective Disability Leave Management

4 Tips for Effective Disability Leave Management

4 Tips for Effective Disability Leave Management

4 Tips for Effective Disability Leave Management

Lost productivity because of employee absence costs US business $226 billion a year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that to be $1,685 per employee!

Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle WashingtonAs a business owner, human resources manager, or professional manager – you should be able to track how many of the workplace absences taken are health-related or a symptom of poor job performance.

Are your absence policies compliant with federal regulations? If not, you risk fines or employee lawsuits. Investing in your disability leave management will reduce risk and benefit your employees.

Read on for practical disability leave management strategies your workplace can introduce today.

1. Define Your Absence Policies

Your absence policies define your accruals process and leave types. They state whether balances carry over and how and when to apply for leave.

Every workplace should provide communication and education around your absence policies to both employees and managers. This helps employees understand the different types and application steps. Especially for disability leaves.

Managers will learn what to expect during a disability absence. This allows them to plan their team’s workload and stay within the rules.

Provide this information during onboarding and throughout an employee’s employment. Keep your policy manual up to date with any regulation changes.

2. Keep Accurate Records

Federal rules apply when it comes to ensuring accurate records for time worked. For paid leave, like sick or disability leave, these rules are mandated at the state level.

Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle WashingtonAccurate records benefit the leave process. Managers can plan work schedules. Human Resources can determine disability leave eligibility. Employees know how much leave they have accrued.

Reporting can also identify trends and help with budgeting financial leave liabilities.

Tracking software helps with accuracy and ease of use. It can calculate accruals and disability benefits, and track workplace incidents and workplace accidents.

3. Train Managers in Disability Leave Management

Training supervisors on disability leave will avoid costly employee claims. As the company’s leave policy is updated, so should the training.

Knowing when to direct their employees to Human Resources is an important part of the manager training. A recent Morneau Shepell survey found employees returned to work faster when they talked directly with their Human Resources department, rather than their supervisor.

Consider hiring a vocational consultant to help setup these policies.

4. Provide Preventative Measures

A workplace free from physical injury or repetitive strains will prevent some absences. Giving employees access to information that can help them learn to be more healthy will also help to reduce the need for a long-term absence. For example, ways to quit smoking or eat more healthy foods.

When you combine a wellness program with a return-to-work program, you can reduce employee absences and have them return to work faster. Return-to-work plans may involve lighter duties or reasonable accommodations to meet the employee’s needs.

Furthermore, employers should perform ergonomics assessments to ensure that employees are working in a safe environment. Ergonomics Assessments can help prevent repetitive injury by providing workers with comfortable workstations and other preventative tools.

Help Your Employees Return to Work Sooner

Effective disability leave management involves four parts:

  • A defined absence policy
  • An accurate tracking system
  • Training for employees and managers
  • A proactive approach to work safety and employee health

We understand that setting up effective disability leave management may be overwhelming. For this reason, most business will hire a vocational consultant to manage the process for them, so they can focus on running their business.

We would be honored if you considered contacting the vocational experts Solutions Northwest Inc. to help you get your employees back to work and provide advice to reduce absences. Contact us today to chat with our Vocational Experts to see what we can do for you!

At Solutions Northwest Inc., our vocational experts are involved in  ADA Accommodations , personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Contact our Vocational Consultants

Legal Foundations: Your Guide to Career or Vocational Assessments

Legal Foundations: Your Guide to Career or Vocational Assessments

Legal Foundations: Your Guide to Career or Vocational Assessments

Legal Foundations: Your Guide to Career or Vocational Assessments

Did you know that, on average, there are forty-six thousand openings for lawyers per year?Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washington

With so many cases across so many fields, it is inevitable that a career or vocational assessment will be needed to prove the earning capacity of your client.

These vocational assessments are done in many scenarios- determining how much money your client could be making in given frame of time and circumstances will help a variety of situations that you may have been hired for.

In this case, it may be wise to learn when bringing in someone who is an expert at vocational evaluation is needed.

Why are vocational assessments necessary?

Vocational assessments are an in-depth look at a person’s background, skills, education, and any information about their occupation. In addition, it may also examine health conditions.

Many people use vocational evaluations, such as rehab counselors, but they come up in legal proceedings often. 

Generally, vocational evaluations come up to determine earning capacity – that is, the amount of money a person could have earned if not for current circumstances.

When is a vocational evaluation wanted?

The times when you may need to call in a vocational expert witness are greatly varied, from family law to career issues.

For example, if you are going through divorce proceedings, you might need a career assessment done to help decide on an amount for alimony or child support.

Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle WashingtonThis is done to determine a person’s earning capacity to support themself and any children. 

On the other end of things, you may need a personal injury earning capacity determined. This means that a vocational expert examines all the factors and evaluates how much money would have been collected had the client not gotten injured.

If the injury is permanent, it may lead to a need for disability management consulting services. In this case, the client has a long-term issue with earning capacity, which needs a vocational expert to determine the loss.

In some cases, a career assessment may also be necessary to help with ADA accommodations

How do I get a vocational expert on my team?

Knowing when a vocational expert is needed seems complicated, but it’s nothing to worry about if you retain professional assistance. We’d love if you’d consider contacting Solutions Northwest, Inc. to help, we offer vocational evaluations as simple or as detailed as your client may require.

These vocational assessments consider many factors such as detailed medical reviews, job analysis, and transferrable skills assessment. Vocational experts will even look into forensic testimonies to assist in the vocational assessment process.

In addition, Solutions Northwest, Inc. does its research. You can expect a developed vocational assessment and excellent communication during the process.

To speak with our vocational experts, contact us at Solutions Northwest, Inc. Our experts are knowledgeable about ADA accommodation issues, disability and injury management, and workers’ compensation. We are happy to assist you!

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

verton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Contact our Vocational Consultants

How a Vocational Expert Can Help HR and Risk Managers

How a Vocational Expert Can Help HR and Risk Managers

How a Vocational Expert Can Help HR and Risk Managers

How a Vocational Expert Can Help HR and Risk Managers

In 2020, over 2.7 million workplace injuries were reported by private businesses. So how can these types of injuries be avoided in your business?Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washington

Human Resources and Risk Managers do a lot to ensure their company stays safe. They work hard to find potential causes of accidents or losses. They try to implement preventative measures. And yet, despite these managers’ best efforts, employees still become injured on the job.

Furthermore, these employees usually file a claim for disability benefits while they recover from their injuries. 

As a business owner, human resources manager, or risk manager – it becomes your job to minimize the costs to your company and the damage it could sustain, but where to start? That’s where a Vocational Expert comes into the picture.

Vocational experts are professionals qualified by the SSA to determine if a person is legitimately disabled. In doing so, they can work with risk managers to reach a settlement that helps the company and the claimant. Read on to discover how this works in the guide below!

What a Vocational Expert Does

A vocational expert is not an attorney on behalf of the SSA. Instead, they serve as expert legal witnesses that can corroborate if a claimant is legitimately incapable of doing their job due to injuries. They can also help this person find new work if they have become permanently disabled. 

These vocational experts usually have specific training that makes them “experts.” For example, most vocational legal experts have extensive knowledge and experience with the current labor market conditions of an industry. Similarly, they understand how the SSA determines if a claimant Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washingtonis disabled. 

Most importantly, these vocational experts have experience with the vocational reference sources that the SSA recognizes. This way, they can issue vocational testing that complies with the SSA’s standards

Vocational Evaluation

One of the most critical functions a vocational expert has is conducting vocational evaluations. These evaluations are processes that vocational experts use to determine whether a claimant can perform or pursue a job. 

A forensic vocational evaluation considers many factors. Firstly, a vocational expert will examine current industry conditions to determine what a job requires of its workers. 

This information can be of vital use to human resources and risk managers. Vocational experts can provide risk managers with extensive information about the conditions of their industry and what accidents ensue. 

From there, risk managers can form more careful preventative measures to ensure fewer employees become injured. The expert can also help risk management prove whether a worker needs disability benefits. We’ll discuss this more in the last section.

Expert Vocational Testimony

Finally, vocational experts provide their expert opinion about a claimant’s case in court. Usually, the claimant’s attorney will ask the expert hypothetical questions about the situation.

For example, they may ask, “If somebody of the same age and medical history as my client experienced this, what would you suggest?” The vocational legal expert then provides their answer. 

Once again, this can help risk managers. This legal-expert witness can inform a company how to treat the claimant and how much time they may need to recover. 

Get Help From a Vocational Expert

A vocational expert can help human resources and risk management clarify many questions. All you have to do is find the best expert for your case.

We invite you to consider contacting the experts at Solutions Northwest Inc., we can help you find a vocational expert or give you general vocational consulting. Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law.

If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Contact us today to make an appointment!

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Contact our Vocational Consultants

Business 101: Why Insurers Use Vocational Experts

Business 101: Why Insurers Use Vocational Experts

Business 101: Why Insurers Use Vocational Experts

Business 101: Why Insurers Use Vocational Experts

Is your company facing a workers’ compensation or disability claim? If so, a vocational expert can help you reach a reasonable settlement with the employee making a claim.

Insurers often hire vocational experts to assist with conducting a vocational assessment and understanding all the case facts. So, it’s a good idea for your business to understand why.Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washington

Keep reading to learn more about working with a vocational expert.

What Do Vocational Experts Do?

Vocational experts give an independent assessment of whether someone’s physical condition prohibits them from earning a living. They analyze whether injured workers suffered a partial or total disability and how this affects their future employment potential.

To do this, first, they need to conduct a vocational assessment. This assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of an individual’s work profile. It includes:

  • Background
  • Education
  • Skills
  • Training
  • Occupational requirements
  • Interests
  • Work styles
  • Personality

The vocational assessment will also include an overview of employee disabilities or health conditions and cognitive abilities.

After the vocational assessment is complete, the vocational expert will need to examine objective evidence in the case provided by:

  • Physicians
  • Insurance companies
  • Insurance employers
  • Medical records

This will help the vocational expert conclude a fair way to settle the workers’ compensation or disability claim.

Not just anyone can be a vocational expert. They need substantial credentials to back up their opinions in court, so you will likely need to hire a vocational expert outside of your in-house staff if you don’t already retain one.

The Importance of a Vocational Expert Testimony

Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle WashingtonJudges, juries, and insurance companies hold vocational expert opinions in high regard. So when their testimony goes to court, it’s a substantial piece of evidence, whether for or against your business.

Insurance companies hire vocational experts to substantiate the claims made by the employer. Insurers don’t want to pay out more money and benefits than they need to in a lawsuit.

This is good for your business. It could lessen your responsibility for the matter at hand.

However, an employee can also hire a vocational expert of their own. Since disputes run through the court system, injured employees may try everything to substantiate their own claims.

Should an employee hire their own vocational expert, it’s even more important your business and insurer have one too.

The experts will each testify in the case. If your employee has a vocational expert and your business doesn’t, the court may find you more liable to the employee’s claims.

When each party has an expert on its side, they will battle out in court before agreeing to a settlement.

Your business’s vocational expert will explain why the worker can return to work, even if in a limited capacity. The employee’s vocational expert will explain why the worker is entitled to worker compensation or disability benefits.

They will use a vocational assessment and evidence from the incident to determine the case’s outcome.

Protect Your Business and Hire a Vocational Expert Today

If your business is facing a disability or workers’ compensation claim, make sure to have a vocational expert on your side.

To speak with our vocational experts, contact us at Solutions Northwest, Inc. Our experts are knowledgeable about ADA accommodation issues, disability and injury management, and workers’ compensation. We are happy to assist you!

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

 

 

 

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Contact our Vocational Consultants

A Brief Look at Vocational Aptitude Tests

A Brief Look at Vocational Aptitude Tests

A Brief Look at Vocational Aptitude Tests

Studies show that a person has an average of 12.3 jobs during their lifetime. 

The search for a job or career can be long and stressful. It is often difficult to know where to start. Luckily, there are career assessments to help you find out what you would match well with as an occupation. Career assessments, often called vocational aptitude tests are also used during interviews to see if you’re a good match for the job.

Read on to learn more about vocational aptitude tests from the vocational legal experts at Solutions Northwest Inc..

What is a vocational aptitude test?Contact Vocational Consultants for Assessments on Worker Compensation Seattle Washington

A vocational aptitude test is an assessment performed by experts that is designed to measure an individual’s skill or ability for tasks related to an occupation. It is used to measure their potential performance in a skill or area that they don’t have experience working in.

A human resource department of a company may give out a vocational aptitude test during the interview process to screen potential applicants and determine if they are a fit for the role in which they are applying. Giving the test prior to the in-person interview will narrow the talent pool to only those that have the skills or traits that they are searching for to fill the position. 

Completing a vocational aptitude test can be an incredibly useful tool that helps you discover positions that you never knew were available and match your skillset.

What are the benefits of taking a vocational aptitude test?

A vocational test is often more efficient than interviews when employers are trying to determine if you have the potential to do the job well. Some hiring processes can be long and drawn out, creating fatigue for the employer and the applicant. The efficiency of the test helps to accelerate the process. 

The test can also provide training insight to know what areas you could use additional training in. This is important if you are happy in your current job but would like to get a promotion and want to stand out. If your other coworkers are not taking the time to determine their strengths, weaknesses, and skills through the test, you will be much more prepared.

If you are considering a career change, taking the test will help you hone in on specific areas to start your search. When applying for these positions, you will be able to refer to the fact that vocational aptitude test results suggested you would be good at completing the job functions. 

In conclusion, a vocational aptitude can benefit both the employee and an employer.

A vocational aptitude test is a great tool to gain the insight about your abilities and will yield valuable information, regardless of where you are at in your career. This is also an important test that future employers will be impressed that you have completed. 

Consider contacting a vocational expert. At Solutions Northwest Inc., we can help you find a vocational expert or give you general vocational consulting. Our vocational experts are involved in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law. If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Looking for more information? Contact us, at Solutions Northwest Inc.

Solutions Northwest Inc. employs experts in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and family law. If you need our guidance, our legal experts are ready to guide you through the process.

Contact us today to make an appointment.

Subscribe to our blog for more work related tips from Solutions Northwest, Inc., experts available in: Seattle, WA, Tacoma, WA, Olympia, WA, Vancouver, WA, Kent, WA Renton, WA, Beaverton, WA.

 

Contact the Vocational Consultants at Solutions Northwest Inc. Below:

Multiple Locations

Corporate Office: 120 State Ave. NE #397
Olympia, WA 98501
Business Hours: 8am-5pm M-F
Corporate FAX: 360-866-4773
Email: Info@solutionsnw.com

Seattle, WA

206-521-5676

San Diego, CA

877-976-9462

Portland/Salem, OR

503-768-9742

Olympia, WA

360-236-8748

Contact our Vocational Consultants

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