What Are ERNwest's Return to Work (RTW) and Stay at Work (SAW) Programs?

Updated

ERNwest's Return to Work (RTW) and Stay at Work (SAW) programs are two workers' compensation management services that help Washington employers keep injured employees connected to their jobs instead of losing them to long absences. RTW focuses on bringing an employee back to the workplace after an injury, while SAW focuses on keeping an employee on the job in some modified capacity while they recover. Both are listed among ERNwest's core services, alongside Retrospective Rating (Retro), claims management, and safety performance and compliance. The practical goal of both is the same: control claim costs and reduce lost work time.

RTW vs. SAW: What Each Program Does

Program When it applies Core purpose
Return to Work (RTW) After an injury has occurred and the employee has been off work Help the injured employee return to the workplace, often in a modified or transitional role
Stay at Work (SAW) During recovery, before or instead of a full absence Support the employee in continuing to work in some capacity while they heal

The distinction is timing. SAW is about preventing or shortening time away from work; RTW is about restoring the work relationship once an absence has happened. In practice, a well-run program uses both — SAW to avoid unnecessary lost time in the first place, and RTW to bring someone back as soon as it is medically appropriate.

Why These Programs Matter for Cost Control

Workers' compensation costs in Washington are driven heavily by claim duration and lost wages. The longer an injured employee stays off work, the more the claim tends to cost — in wage replacement, medical management, and administrative complexity. ERNwest positions RTW and SAW as tools that address this directly by reducing lost work time and keeping claims from escalating.

ERNwest states that it has returned $300M to Washington employers through its Retro programs and that clients save an average of 30% on workers' compensation costs. RTW and SAW are part of the broader service set that supports those outcomes, though ERNwest does not publish program-specific savings figures for RTW or SAW alone.

How These Fit Into ERNwest's Full Service Set

ERNwest describes itself as the largest and most knowledgeable third-party administrator (TPA) in Washington, serving employers in all industries who pay premium to the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Its listed programs are:

  • Retrospective Rating (Retro) — helps employers maximize premium refunds and control claim costs
  • Professional Workers' Comp Management Services & Tools
  • Return to Work (RTW)
  • Claims Management
  • Stay at Work (SAW)
  • Safety Performance & Compliance

RTW and SAW sit alongside claims management because they depend on it — someone has to manage the claim, communicate with L&I, and coordinate with the employer and medical providers for a return-to-work plan to actually function. ERNwest also offers to handle L&I communication and claim complexities on the employer's behalf, which is the operational backbone these programs rely on.

What an Employer Actually Does With These Programs

The programs are not self-serve software. They are services delivered through ERNwest's team, so the employer's role is mostly to engage and cooperate:

  1. Set up a consultation. ERNwest offers a no-obligation consultation on a workers' compensation account, which is the entry point for discussing RTW and SAW.
  2. Identify modified-duty options. RTW and SAW both depend on having some work the employee can perform while recovering. Employers typically need to define light-duty or transitional roles in advance.
  3. Coordinate through ERNwest. ERNwest handles L&I communication and claim complexities, which is where much of the time savings for employers comes from.
  4. Use the claims manager and reporting tools. ERNwest provides a "Find Your Claims Manager" tool and an incident report channel, so claims get routed to the right person quickly.

Common Questions

Are RTW and SAW the same thing? No. SAW keeps an employee working during recovery; RTW brings an employee back after an absence. They overlap in method but differ in timing.

Do these programs apply to all Washington employers? ERNwest serves employers in all industries who pay premium to L&I. Whether RTW and SAW are a fit depends on your claims profile and whether modified-duty work is available.

How do I find out if this applies to my company? ERNwest's site offers a consultation request and a direct line at 1-800-433-7601. The consultation is described as no-obligation, so it is the appropriate first step before assuming any program fits your situation.

Does ERNwest publish pricing for these programs? No pricing or payment details appear in the available site information, so cost should be confirmed directly with ERNwest during consultation rather than assumed.