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Human Resources Memorandum 6-97 contains detailed policies and instructions for transitional duty positions.
II Program Requirements & Administration
- THE EMPLOYING DEPARTMENT/AGENCY - The employing department/agency has the primary responsibility for an employee who suffers a work-related injury or illness. This primary responsibility requires the employment department/agency to implement an Early Intervention Program for:
- Processing and managing workers' compensation claims.
- Establishing and maintaining liaison with workers' compensation employees and health care providers.
- Analyzing work capacity, to include the use of medical and vocational rehabilitation specialists if needed.
- Developing functional job descriptions to address the physical requirements for all positions that may be considered as return-to-work opportunities.
- Developing an Occupational Plan that specifies the logistics and time frame for the employee's return to work.
- Providing or conducting a search for a position within the department/agency that is consistent with the return-to-work terms of the employee's occupational plan.
If the department/agency is able to provide a position, similar pay and benefits, that is consistent with the return-to-work terms of an employee's occupational plan, the employee must be appointed to that position. No further return-to-work efforts will be made. Department/agency heads will receive annually a 'report card' from the Governor's Office rating their department's/agency's performance in adopting an aggressive, results-oriented, accident and injury plan to include return-to-work opportunity placements.
- OTHER STATE DEPARTMENT/AGENCIES - In the event that the employing agency is unable to provide a return-to-work opportunity that satisfies the terms of the occupational plan for a workers' compensation employee, the employing department/agency must contact the Return-to-Work (RTW) Coordinator, Employee Health & Benefits, for assistance in conducting a search for suitable return to work opportunities in other state departments/agencies. The State is a single employer for the purpose of return-to-work opportunities and all departments/agencies must cooperate in the State's efforts to return a workers' compensation employee to meaningful, productive employment. When a position is located that is consistent with the return-to-work terms of the employee's Occupational Plan, the employee must be appointed to that position. No further return-to-work efforts will be made.