Disability Management
A disability management program provides a structured, consistent, formalized process to use in dealing with employees who are ill or disabled. It uses the services; people and resources designed to reduce the human, economic and social costs of disability to employees, employers and society.
SAHO has developed a detailed disability management manual for its regional health authority and affiliated agencies. The information provided below is a brief overview of SAHO's disability management program.
Why should a disability management program be implemented?
Both research and practical experience have shown that for employees who have incurred a disability:
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there is only a 50% chance they will return to work after a six month absence
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there us only a 20% chance they will return to work after a one year absence
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there is only a 10% chance they will return to work after a two year absence
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Who is responsible for disability management?
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Agency’s Board of Directors
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Senior Management
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Employer/Supervisor
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Employee
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Union
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Health Care Provider
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Joint Management/Union Return-to-Work Committee
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Case Manager
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Return-to-Work Program Principles:
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The employer and employee, in consultation with the union, should jointly develop and establish the return to work program.
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The ill or injured employee’s involvement in the development of his or her return to work plan is essential to the employee’s sense of pride and ownership of the plan.
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The success of the return to work program depends on continual communication and consultation amongst all the return to work team members - employee, employer, WCB, care provider and union.
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The right to the privacy of an employee’s medical condition must be maintained through out the return-to-work process.
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The primary goal is to return the employee to the pre-absence job. Return-to-work accommodations will be dependent on the nature of the employee’s limitations, remaining capabilities and availability of work.
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Hierarchy of Employment
:
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Hierarchy
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Job
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Employer
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Modifications
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Retraining
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1 (most preferred)
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same
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same
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no
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no
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2
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same
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same
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yes
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no
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3
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different
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same
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no
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no
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4
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different
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same
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yes
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no
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5
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same
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different
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yes or no
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no
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6
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different
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different
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yes or no
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no
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7 (least preferred)
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different
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different or same
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--
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yes
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The hierarchy of employment objectives describes all the possible vocational outcomes in order of preference:
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The return-to-work program offers realistic work duties in a supportive work environment and enables an employee with an illness or a disability return to work in a safe and gradual pace.
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The return-to-work plan should focus on the employee’s capabilities, not his/her limitations.
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A progressive and/or modified duties assignment can help the employee with an illness or disability realize his/her personal and professional goals by returning to work earlier.
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SAHO Disability Management Forms available in PDF:
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Work Capacity Assessment
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Job Task Analysis
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Return-to-Work Plan
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Report of Workplace Incident/Hazard
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