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Adopt County Return-to-Work Policy for County employees
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Director of Human Resources recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the County's Return-to-Work Policy for County employees.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Human Resources, Risk Management Division, has developed the Return-to-Work policy and procedures designed to enable an employee to return to work as soon as medically feasible following an industrial or non-industrial injury, illness or disability. The key to a successful return-to-work program includes the gradual resumption of the employee's regular job assignments during the recovery process. The policy provides specific procedures that identify roles and responsibilities as well as consistent interventions to reduce prolonged absences and minimize direct and indirect costs.
The adoption of the proposed policy formalizes the County's efforts in providing employees transitional work assignments.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no cost to the County to implement this policy. Return-to-work programs can have the effect of reducing direct and indirect costs by minimizing the impact of an employee's injury, illness or disability, the cost of lost productivity, time, morale, and the use of disability-related leave benefits.
DISCUSSION:
The Return-to-Work policy represents the County's commitment to a return-to-work program that provides clear written guidelines and procedures promoting the progressive return of the ill or injured employee to full work duty.
Highlights of the policy are as follows:
1. The policy provides for temporary, transitional work assignments and applies to both industrial and non-industrial injuries, illnesses and disabilities;
2. The availability of transitional work assignments is determined by the County's department directors and based upon the employee's temporary wo...
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