300-10 Transitional Duty Assignment Flashcards
The department shall attempt to provide opportunities for injured or ill employees to return to productive work as soon as possible in accordance with Texas Department of Insurance (TOI) regulations and City of Houston Executive Order 1-33.
Efforts shall be made to reassign employees to transitional duty if they are…
Transitional duty is not intended to permanently replace an employee’s
regular duties.
unable to perform their regular duties because of personal illness or injury, whether occupational or non-occupational in nature
Bona Fide Offer of Employment (BFOE).
A written offer of a transitional duty assignment that abides by requirements set by the TOI and that contains work restrictions given by the approved City of Houston and TOI medical provider.
Occupational Injury
An injury, disease, or illness sustained in the course and scope of employment with the City of Houston.
Texas Workers’ Compensation Work Status Report (DWC Form-73).
A report by an occupationally injured employee’s treating physician indicating the work status and activity restrictions of the injured employee.
The DWC Form-73 also serves as a release to any type of transitional duty or a return to full duty with no restrictions.
See the DWC Form-73 on the department’s Intranet Portal for complete details.
Third Party Administrator (TPA).
Independent administrator contracted by the City of Houston to be responsible for the adjudication of workers’ compensation claims including payments to recovering employees and health care providers in compliance with the law.
Transitional Duty.
A process that allows an injured or ill employee to return to work in a less than full-duty capacity.
Transitional Duty Assignment.
A temporary work assignment designed to allow an employee who is injured, ill, or unable to work at full-duty capacity to perform tasks that are within the specific restrictions set by the employee’s treating physician.
Treating Physician.
A physician who is directing the medical treatment of an injured or ill employee.
Treating Physician’s Statement.
A document provided by an authorized health care provider after an office visit with an injured or ill employee.
The treating physician’s statement must contain the date of the office visit, the name and contact information of the health care provider completing the statement, the current work status of the injured or ill employee, the range of dates covered by the statement, and the employee’s work and/or activity restrictions or a statement with an effective date that the employee can return to work without restrictions.
A treating physician’s statement does not include information related to a specific diagnosis.
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
When applicable, efforts shall be made to provide an employee with a transitional duty assignment when the employee is…
Employees with occupational injuries or illnesses shall be given…
If adequate space and work is available, transitional duty assignments may be offered to…
1) unable to perform his essential job duties due to an occupational injury or illness.
2) priority in transitional duty assignments.
3) employees who are recovering from non-occupational injuries or illnesses.
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Initial Request for Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
Within ____hours after being released by the treating physician to work transitional duty (also known as light duty), the employee shall provide his immediate supervisor a Texas Workers’ Compensation Work Status Report (DWC Form-73) or the treating physician’s statement.
Utilizing this information, the supervisor shall determine if…
1) 24
2) an appropriate transitional duty assignment is available at the employee’s regular assigned division.
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Initial Request for Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
The supervisor shall immediately send an email to the concerned division commander through the chain of command and include the following:
a.
Employee’s name, employee number, classification, regular assignment, and _____
b.
A request for a_____ for the employee.
c.
Detailed description of the _____ placed on the employee by the treating physician.
d. The transitional duty assignment to be offered to the employee including: 1. Shift start and end time. 2. Number of \_\_\_\_scheduled each week. 3. \_\_\_\_days off. 4. \_\_\_\_of assignment. 5. Detailed description of \_\_\_\_\_. 6. Confirmation that the job duties of the proposed transitional duty assignment fall within the scope of the employee's \_\_\_\_\_ as set by the treating physician.
e.
Anticipated period of time the employee will _____, if known.
a.
Employee’s name, employee number, classification, regular assignment, and duty requirements.
b.
A request for a transitional duty assignment for the employee.
c.
Detailed description of the work restrictions placed on the employee by the treating physician.
d.
The transitional duty assignment to be offered to the employee including:
1. Shift start and end time.
2. Number of hours scheduled each week.
3. Regular days off.
4. Location of assignment.
5. Detailed description of duties to be performed.
6. Confirmation that the job duties of the proposed transitional duty assignment fall within the scope of the employee’s work restrictions as set by the treating physician.
e.
Anticipated period of time the employee will be on transitional duty, if known.
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Initial Request for Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
The _____ shall reply to the email approving or rejecting the transitional duty assignment.
If approved, the employee shall start at the earliest date allowed by the _____
If rejected, the division commander shall advise the reason for the rejection and should either provide an alternate transitional duty assignment that falls within the scope of the employee’s work restrictions as set by the treating physician or…
1) division commander
2) treating physician.
3) explain why a transitional duty assignment is not being offered.
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Initial Request for Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
Once a transitional duty assignment is approved by the division commander, the supervisor shall immediately provide the employee with a _____ that conforms to the employee’s _____ as set by the treating physician.
The BFOE correspondence template is located on the department’s Intranet Portal.
1) bona fide offer of employment (BFOE)
2) work and/or activity restrictions
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Initial Request for Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
Once the BFOE is completed, the supervisor shall…
Then within ____hours after the BFOE is signed, the supervisor shall send the following documents to HSU via interoffice mail.
f.
Original ____indicating acceptance or decline of BFOE.
g.
Original ____ or treating physician’s statement.
h.
Copy of the concerned Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) event correspondence _____. For additional information on FMLA, see General Orders 300-09, Absence from Duty - Classified and 900-01, Absence from Duty - Civilian.
At the earliest opportunity, HSU shall send a reply if there are any concerns or if additional information is needed.
1) immediately email the owe Form-73 or the treating physician’s statement and the signed BFOE to the department’s Health and Safety Unit (HSU).
2) 24
3) BFOE
4) DWC Form-73
5) accepting or declining FMLA coverage
OCCUPATIONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS
Approval of Transitional Duty Due to Occupational Injury or Illness
Once the concerned division commander has approved an employee to work transitional duty, supervisors shall ensure that the following actions are taken:
a.
Notify the ____.
b.
Add the injured or ill employee’s name to the division’s _____. This form is available on the department’s Intranet Portal.
1) division’s timekeeper
2) Injured or Ill Employees and Transitional Duty Report
