Page 186 - Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual

Section 1000.611 Returning to Full Duty from Workers Comp Temporary Duty

A. Once the authorized treating physician releases the employee to full duty, the employee must
return to his or her home department with the Return to Work authorization. The home
department is responsible for notifying Risk Management before the next working day by
faxing a copy of the Return to Work authorization. Risk Management will inform the assigned
department of the employee's change in work status.
B. Worker's compensation law does not require the Augusta, Georgia to hold the injured
employee's position until he/she can return to work. Employees' whose injury constitutes a
"serious health condition" as defined in the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and is on
leave will be placed on FMLA for up to twelve weeks. If an employee is unable to return to
full duty at the end of FMLA, a maximum of twelve weeks of temporary duty will be offered
to transition the employee back into the workplace. Employees ineligible for FMLA will be
granted up to twelve weeks of temporary duty.
C. While assigned to temporary duty, Risk Management will obtain status reports from the
authorized treating physician. If the physician determines that the employee is unable to return
to his or her permanent position, Risk Management will request that a rehabilitation
professional perform a job accommodation analysis or a transferable skills analysis. Based on
this analysis, the Augusta, Georgia will assist the employee with obtaining a position which
meets his or her skill level and medical limitations.
D. In the event the employee's permanent restrictions meet the ADA requirements, the Augusta,
Georgia, upon the employee's request, will make reasonable accommodations for the
employee's placement based on a job accommodation analysis performed by rehabilitation
professional.
E. If Augusta, Georgia cannot accommodate employees who have received permanent
restrictions, Human Resources will work in collaboration with Risk Management and a
rehabilitation professional to determine a position which is appropriate for his or her skill level
and medical limitations.

Section 1000.612 Workers Comp Temporary Duty Definitions

A. ADA - American with Disabilities Act - a civil rights bill giving individuals with disabilities
protection from discrimination in employment and in access to commercial facilities,
transportation, telecommunications, and state and local governmental services.
B. Assigned Department - department where injured employee is placed pending full medical
release to job of injury.
C. Authorized Treating Physician - physician who is authorized under the Augusta, Georgia's
Panel of Physicians to provide treatment to Augusta, Georgia employees.
D. Primary Department - department in which employee was hired. In most instances, the
department where the employee worked at time of injury.
E. Indemnity Benefits - cash benefits paid to an injured worker to replace part of wages lost as a
result of a work injury.
F. Job Accommodation Analysis - an analysis of a position which attends to any specific work
station modification that would allow someone to do their job.
G. Rehabilitation Professional - person certified and approved by the State of Georgia in the field
of disability management.
H. Return to Work Authorization - written authorization, from the authorized treating physician,
allowing the injured employee's return to duty.
I. Temporary Duty Assignment - temporary job assignment which meets the medical restrictions
as prescribed by the authorized treating physician. Assignment is not to exceed 24 weeks.
J. Transferable Skills Analysis - an analysis of the injured employee's past employment skills
which would allow a transfer to new employment.

All Rights Reserved – As approved by the Commission on 05-07-2019 186 | P a g e