Modified Duty (Return-to-Work Programs)

Sample"Modified Duty / Return-to-Work Policy"

Overview

When an employee of this company sustains a work-related injury which is compensable under current workers' compensation legislation, the treating physician may release the employee to return to work with temporary physical restriction(s), which are intended to aid the employee in recovery from that injury. In such circumstances, this company will make all reasonable efforts to enable the injured employee to return to work within the temporary, physician-imposed physical restrictions.

When an employee is unable to return to work performing his/her regular job duties, that employee may be provided with a temporary job assignment which conforms to the treating physician's imposed limitations. In such circumstances, the temporary job assignment is termed "modified duty," because the duties (or tasks) performed by that employee have been modified to meet the employee's temporary physical limitations.

The temporary job assignment may, or may not be in the same classification or location as the employees regular job. Additionally, the temporary job assignment may or may not be equivalent (in terms of weekly hours worked and/or monetary compensation received) to the employee's regular job.

Purpose

The purpose of this "Modified Duty / Return-to-Work Policy" is to assist employees who have sustained a work-related injury to return to gainful, productive employment with the company.

Scope

This "Modified Duty / Return-to-Work Program" applies equally to all employees of this company.

All employees are eligible to return to work on a "modified duty" status, considering that the following criterion exist.

The injury sustained by the employee has been determined (by Midwestern Insurance Alliance) to be work-related and compensable under current workers' compensation legislation; and
The physical restrictions imposed by the treating physician are specific (e.g. no lifting over 50 pounds); and
The physical restrictions imposed by the treating physician are for a specified, temporary period (e.g. 10 days); and
Work-related tasks which within the physical limitations of the treating physician are available; and are within the physical and skill capacities of the injured employee, with reasonable accommodations made by the employer, employee or both.

Objectives

The objectives of this "Modified Duty / Return-to-Work Policy" are as follows:

To promote unity in establishing a positive working relationship between the employee and the employer
To assist in the return to meaningful work within the employee's capabilities
To prevent psycho-social damage which may result from inactivity
To maintain productivity
To monitor injured employees to ensure physician-imposed physical restrictions are followed
To discourage malingering
To aid in the reduction of workers' compensation costs (including future premiums)

Page

1 2