Fitness for Duty

Date: January 2007

Policy: Employees are required to report for work and perform their duties safely and in a manner that will not jeopardize the health and safety of those around them. Employees must advise their immediate supervisor if they become unfit to safely perform their assigned duties for any reason including personal health issues or work related conditions.

Human Resources, working in consultation with a supervisor, may then require a doctor’s note or documentation regarding specific limitations or restrictions for that employee (e.g., lifting limits, standing restrictions). Likewise, if a supervisor suspects that an employee may be unfit to safely perform the duties of his/her position, the supervisor may require that the employee obtain (at the College's expense) certification from a medical professional that the employee can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

All medical documentation will be held confidentially in Human Resources in compliance with the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Every effort should be made by the supervisor and the employee to ensure that the medical professional is fully informed of the demands of the job. Although an employee's personal medical condition is confidential, the College reserves the right to obtain clarification from a physician (the employee's physician or one selected by the College) and certify that an employee is fit for duty based on his/her current job description. An employee may not be allowed to return to work until such time as medical certification has been received.