Warning: Follow up on all reports of inappropriate employee behavior, even if such reports don't sound serious or don't lead you to question the individual's fitness for duty. Ignoring warning signs, from reports of employees making verbal threats to requests by coworkers to move their work locations away from “depressed” or “unstable” employees, can expose you to greater problems down the line.
- Verify that employees are capable of performing the full range of their duties and essential functions by obtaining a medical doctor's certification. Provide the job description and its physical requirements to the physician, or have the employee's doctor complete a “functional capacities form” (a form that specifies limitations in pushing, lifting, walking, climbing, hand and foot use, air quality and environmental limitations, etc.) Use it to judge the ability of your employee to perform the full range of duties and determine if modifications to the job or light duty are necessary.
- THE EAP CAN HELP: The EAP may have an important role in your organization's fitness-for-duty policy and procedures. Don't forget to ask what help it offers, or what role it plays in coordinating fitness-for-duty exams and an employee's return to duty.
It's True! Employees who have been injured on the job or off the job may not be fit for full duty when they return following sick leave. Even if a doctor releases them to return to work, they may not be able to perform all the duties and essential functions of their position if the doctor did not have a job description with essential duties listed. An unfit-for-duty employee may risk further injury, may incur additional costs to the company or may jeopardize the safety of others.
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Tip Encourage employees to report coworkers whose behavior appears potentially dangerous or who appear to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Employees hesitate to report their suspicions that a coworker is under the influence of drugs or alcohol for fear of getting involved or causing trouble for the afflicted employee. When this happens, risk to others and the organization increases.
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