Hi all. My tradie partner will more than likely have to give up work due to a back injury and probably won’t be able to work in the industry again. We are exploring workers compensation (seems to be a work related injury) and we have some income protection (minimal) as a fallback (well, hopefully; we’ve done the right things to protect ourselves, so hopefully we could access payments).
I don’t think my partner is going to be able to cope with the boredom of of not working, nor being able to contribute financially to the household anymore (and I’m not a high earner with my salary). He’s reasonably young and still has a lot of working years ahead of him.
For anyone having gone through this previously, I’m wanting to ask the following:
1) Did you partner successfully retrain, and if so, what training did they do, and what do they do now?
2) I’m thinking maybe he could look at an online business that he could work at his leisure and as suits his recovery needs, but we’ve no idea what. Any suggestions (no crypto, pyramid schemes or multi-level marketing)?
3) Anything else that might help us find something that might work for my partner to do to find something for his future? TIA.
Retraining/online business suggestions for partner with a back injury
Retraining/online business suggestions for partner with a back injury
Posted in:
Mental Health, Self Care, Men's Business, Health & Wellbeing, Education, IM's In Business
4 Replies
Get him to do his cert lv in training and assessment and become a tafe lecturer for his trade. Or design short courses and sell them. Or start a parts/accessories business relevant to his trade, people really like buying from people that know exactly how to use their products and what they're for. I don't know what trade he is but he could still use it, just think outside the box.
It is really important for both you and your husband to advocate for him at every turn and level. Nothing happens unless you make a lot of noise and ask lots of questions, push for treatments, etc. Don't take no for an answer, research, research - not just google, academic papers, medical journals, etc. Get second opinions and don't believe anything Work Cover tell you. They are an insurer just trying to get you off their books...
How much he can do really depends on how disabled he is. My husband has a back injury and will never work again. He has had three surgeries and multiple nerve injections, etc. His pain and nerve damage is severe. He has a specially modified vehicle and can't walk without assistance (crutch or walking stick). He can't walk further than 200m a day (so about 400 steps). Unfortunately his pain levels stop him being able to concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time. So even sitting or lying and doing work related thinking - say estimating or quality assurance - for long periods, is not possible. He does the best he can to be self-reliant at living.
Don't give up, but be realistic. Best of luck on the journey. We are 6 years in and counting...
If he's reasonably tech savvy, perhaps doing a business admin/bookkeeping course?
Trade businesses are always looking for admin staff and his background/knowledge would be a great advantage. It's also a way he could stay in the industry he obviously enjoys but just at a less physical capacity.
If he gets worker's compensation they will get him back to work in the following hierarchy based on capacity:
- same job, same employer
- similar (more suitable) job, same employer
- same/similar job, different employer
- different job, different employer
With regards to the final option, a vocational assessment and retraining helps identify potential jobs types.
If he doesn't get worker's comp, he can get vocational rehabilitation through the government.
It seems like very early days. Try not to get ahead of yourself right now. Just focus on medical investigation, primary treatment and getting the application for worker's compensation in.