A new push by County Judge Carol Bush to establish a return to work program that meets the needs of all elected officials and departments has resulted in a significant reduction in the county’s 2010 Workers’ Compensation premiums.

“When the Texas Association of Counties learned of my plan to establish a cooperative return to work program, with input and buy-in from all the elected officials, not just the Commissioners’ Court, they responded with a reduction in premiums of over $150,000 for the year,” Bush said.

In a January 5 meeting with TAC Program Director Jim Jean, Bush detailed the county’s year-and-a-half-old health and safety initiative, which has been awarded the Society for Human Resource Management’s Economic Stimulus prize and the Texas Association of Counties’ Making a Difference Award. Ellis County also placed third in the State for employee participation in “Healthy County,” a cooperative health initiative sponsored by TAC and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas. The initiative has also been highlighted in a number of publications.

“The staff has been working hard since summer of 2008 to establish a culture of wellness and safety awareness,” Bush said. “The further refinement of a sound return to work policy is the next key area that requires our focused attention. Obviously, it is our goal to avoid any injury to an employee, but when someone is injured, having a step-by-step plan to get that individual back into a productive role as quickly as possible is essential. That’s really going to be the key to holding down our costs.”

And in these economic times, holding costs down is paramount to Bush and other members of the Commissioners’ Court, for whom raising the tax rate is not a palatable option.

Bush said she has already begun talks with Sheriff Johnny Brown, members of the Commissioners’ Court, and the County and District Attorney’s Office.

“This is the kind of thing that needs a champion among the county’s elected officials,” Bush added. “I know that we are all headed for the same destination; and, what is needed is to listen to all the perspectives, discern where the differences and similarities are, and create a plan that works for everyone.”

Bush was appointed by the Commissioners’ Court to fill the office of County Judge in April of 2009 when former County Judge Chad Adams resigned mid-term.

“It’s not a role I sought out,” she said. “But it is a good fit, and this program is just one example of how I envision being of service to the employees and the citizens of Ellis County.”