Fitness for Duty Evaluations

Bridging the employers world to the alien planet known as the treating physician

Fit for Duty Evaluation

• To the best of our ability assuring employees are physically and mentally capable of performing their jobs with the least risk of harm or injury to themselves or others

ADA

• Only evaluate for essential job functions• Objective reason for evaluation• Failure based on affected body part

How do you help those in the medical community understand the essential job 

functions of your employees?

Breaking the Barrier

Electrician

• Packet to physician– Job description (analysis)– Copy of testing criteria– Letter to physician (response)

Packet is mailed to treating physician when notice of pending full duty release at next appointment is received by disability services.

Fitness for Duty Candidates

Post OfferReturn to Work•Disability•Workers CompJob transfer or bidFor cause

Making the most of your findings     RTW

•What they cannot do yet (tasks)•What they can do (in real work terms)•Accommodations•Work Hardening programs:In‐houseOutside•Communication with physician•Share findings•Gain credentials•Maintain safe environment for employee and peers

In‐house

No weather problems

Duplicate the forces

Generation Plants

Jobs 

•Lineman•Groundman•Meterman•Meter reader•Mechanic•Logistics•Field Metering Spec.•Substation ‐3

Found unable to perform all essential job functions

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

2010 2011 2012

43%

20%

25%

16%

25%

16%

disability

WC

Chose not to return to work after physician received job analysis and met with employee.

Failed criteria?

• Work hardening – On the Job• Work hardening – outside source• Continue on STD or begin LTD• Retest (six weeks)

Company to Doctor Communication

The PT director communicates with the treating physician with results.

Conversation addresses those criteria not passed.

Monitor and teach

Questions

• A question is an illocutionary act that has a directive illocutionary point of attempting to get the addressee to supply information.