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Physical job demands and temporary transitional work assignments

Physical job demands and temporary transitional work assignments should be created for every class of job within your organization prioritized by developing the ones that make up the majority of claim volume and costs frst. Physical job demands are specifc to an employee’s job responsibilities. Transitional work assignments are temporary in nature and are used for employees not capable of performing some or all of their primary job responsibilities. While company positions have specifc job responsibilities, job classes tend to be similar. Provided are templates to assist in the development of physical job demands and transitional work assignments that are specifc to your organization. The templates will guide the collection of the appropriate information when developing physical job demands and transitional work assignments.

Organizations often provide written physical job demands during pre-employment interviews to ensure that potential employees understand and agree to the physical demands of a position. They are also used when explaining or clarifying the requirements of an employee’s job in dealing with a health care provider to help determine if the employee may return to work with or without work restrictions. The development of physical job demands

for each position within your organization can help minimize the confusion, increase communication and expedite the injury process to ensure your employees return to work as quickly and safely as possible.

Utilizing predetermined transitional work assignments go a long way in easing the administrative burden when facilitating the RTW process. By developing temporary transitional work assignments for various job types, you will help physicians understand specifc job duties that the employee can do – even if they are not ready to return to their normal job duties. Transitional work assignments are intended to be temporary and will help minimize the time that the employee may be off work.

Keys to developing successful transitional work assignments:

• Temporary in nature

• Predetermined duration of TW process

• Based on employees changing restrictions

• Uses the workplace as part of the rehabilitation process

• Identify transitional jobs prior to injuries occurring

Sample documentation:

• Physical job demands documentation

• Transitional work assignment documenttion

14 This is intended as a general description of certain types of managed care services available to qualifed customers through Zurich Services Corporation,

an individual member company of Zurich in North America. Zurich Services Corporation does not guarantee a particular outcome, reduction in costs or improvement in administration and further assumes no liability in connection with the providing of these services. ©2011 Zurich Services Corporation

Zurich

1400 American Lane, Schaumburg, Illinois 60196-1056 800 382 2150 www.zurichna.com

Physical Job Demands and Temporary Transitional Work Assignments

SECTION 8