• Home
  • Temporary Work Restrictions Procedure

Temporary Work Restrictions Procedure

Procedure
Purpose: 

This process enables employees with temporary work restrictions due to a temporary medical condition to return to the workplace and perform tasks consistent with medically documented capabilities.

Applies to: 

The temporary work restrictions process is available to employees who require work restrictions/adjustments due to a temporary medical condition. Such restrictions/adjustments are temporary in nature and are not considered to be permanent.

Campus: 
Edwards
Lawrence
Juniper Gardens
Parsons
Yoder
Topeka
Policy Statement: 

Objectives of making work available within temporary restrictions:

  • Provide a safe and timely transition back to work;
  • Expedite employee’s return to regular job duties;
  • Enhance employee productivity;
  • Facilitate physical reconditioning; or
  • Reduce unit needs for replacement personnel.

Eligibility:

In order to be eligible to return to work with temporary restrictions, the employee must have a medical condition that temporarily prevents the employee from performing regular job duties and both the temporary medical condition and temporary restrictions must be documented by the employee’s health care provider as set forth below.

To establish if work is available within temporary work restrictions, the employee’s healthcare provider must provide a written statement including the following:

  1. Confirmation the employee is released to return to work to perform duties consistent with the specified restrictions;
  2. The specific restrictions on the employee’s work requirements. (There may be instances where Human Resource Management (HRM) will ask that the health care provider speak specifically to the employee’s job duties as listed in their position description.  If this is needed, HRM will notify the employee in writing.); and.
  3. The estimated duration of the work restrictions or a next appointment date when the restrictions will be reevaluated.

Once the employee’s health care provider has provided the written statement to the employee, the employee must share the statement with HRM. HRM will then determine whether temporary work restrictions are available for the employee by communicating with the employee’s unit to determine if tasks within the specified restrictions are available, and whether such work serves the University’s best interests. Temporary work restrictions will be approved only if appropriate tasks are available and the temporary assignment is in the best interests of the University.

The employee also may choose to request an employee accommodation through the University’s formal accommodations process.

Duration of Temporary Work Restrictions:

Conclusion of the temporary work restrictions will occur at the earliest of the following:

  • When the employee is given medical release to resume regular work duties;
  • When the employee demonstrates an inability to meet performance expectations of the temporary work restrictions; or
  • When a medical determination, indicates that the employee will not be able to resume regular duties at any time in the reasonable future.

Coordination of Temporary Work Restrictions:

In coordination with the employee’s supervisor and other University resources, temporary work restrictions will be managed and directed by HRM. For each case, the appropriate unit supervisor and the employee will work closely with HRM to ensure that temporary work restrictions are followed.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The Employee must:

  • Provide a written statement from their health care provider specifically stating the necessary temporary work restrictions and the needed duration to HRM.
  • Abide by the temporary work restrictions given by the employee’s health care provider and understands that exceeding/working outside of the restrictions is a violation of the temporary work restriction process.
  • Perform assigned tasks pursuant to the supervisor’s objectives/expectations.
  • Provide the supervisor and HRM with relevant medical updates and supporting documentation within one working day of receipt, especially documentation of a change in work restrictions due to their medical condition.
  • Immediately communicate to the supervisor any concern related to work assignments that may cause further injury or may exceed the temporary work restrictions.

The Supervisor must:

  • Communicate with HRM to determine the availability of tasks consistent with temporary work restrictions.
  • Provide appropriate work, if determined to be available, within the restrictions specified by the health care provider.
  • Facilitate and monitor, as much as practicable and on a reasonable frequency, the task(s) being performed to ensure safe conditions and satisfactory performance, and immediately notify HRM of issues with either requirement.
  • Limit disclosure of the employee’s restrictions to the minimum necessary to accomplish program purposes. While the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to workers’ compensation insurers, administrative agencies, or employers, such entities are still required to reasonably limit the disclosure of protected health information (PHI).
  • Work with HRM to seek any clarifying medical information.

Human Resource Management must:

  • In response to notification of an employee who has temporary work restrictions in place, HRM will reach out to the employee and supervisor to ensure that this process is followed.
  • Communicate with unit supervisors to determine the availability of tasks consistent with temporary work restrictions.
  • Ensure that the employee receives notification of the availability and duration of temporary work restrictions
  • Limit disclosure of the employee’s temporary work restrictions to the minimum necessary to accomplish program purposes. While the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to workers’ compensation insurers, administrative agencies, or employers, such entities are still required to reasonably limit the disclosure of protected health information (PHI).
  • For worker’s compensation injuries, HRM will act as liaison with the employee, health care provider, and if applicable, State Self-Insurance Fund as required by the State of Kansas, and the University’s Workers’ Compensation policy.

If the temporary work restrictions are due to a work injury, the employee, the supervisor, and HRM must adhere to the University’s Workers’ Compensation policy and process.

Contact: 

Human Resource Management
1246 West Campus Road, Room 103
Carruth O'Leary Hall
The University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas 66045
785-864-4946
hrdept@ku.edu

Approved by: 
Chief Human Resource Officer
Approved on: 
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Effective on: 
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Review Cycle: 
Annual (As Needed)
Keywords: 
workers compensation, workers' compensation, accident, injury, hurt, hurt on the job, transitional duty, work status report, task inquiry, employee notification, transitional duty program agreement, transitional duty procedure, transitional duty program
Change History: 

03/27/2023: Updated procedure to align with current processes. Converted from PDF to live text.
02/25/2016: Updated last review date.
01/20/2015: Policy formatting cleanup (e.g., bolding, spacing).
08/06/2014: Updated the Transitional Duty Procedure PDF to change references to IOA to the Office of Accessibility and ADA Education.
04/24/2014: Added the Transitional Duty Procedure to the Policy Library, along with related forms. These documents were also added to the Related Procedures and Related Forms sections of the Workers' Compensation policy.


Can't Find What You're Looking For?
Policy Library Search
KU Today
One of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities
Nearly $290 million in financial aid annually
44 nationally ranked graduate programs.
—U.S. News & World Report
Top 50 nationwide for size of library collection.
—ALA
23rd nationwide for service to veterans —"Best for Vets," Military Times