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Learn How Integra Helps Employers Through Difficult Employment Issues
An Employers’ Quick Guide to Assessments
Do You Even Need an Employee Assessment?
How do you know if you need an employee assessment? 1 in 4 of your employees will experience a health event (i.e. an injury or illness) that potentially can take them out of the workplace. This is not only disruptive to your business but there is real and significant harm that can happen to your employee due to long term worklessness. When faced with an employee’s medical issue it can be challenging for employers to find the support they need or even know what to do to support their employees in the best way they can. Despite wanting to be sensitive and accommodating to the needs of their employees, many employers can find it difficult to know exactly what is required of them in certain circumstances. If an employee requires a fitness to work or medical assessment, or they have requested a work from home accommodation for health reasons, many employers are unsure how to proceed. At Integra, we deal with these challenges every day and often see the same types of challenges across employers and industries. However, for an employer, the process can be unfamiliar, complicated, and the outcome uncertain which makes finding the right solution hard to determine. We are here to help! Integra offers free consultations to employers who are facing these challenges. To get the most out of a consultation, here are some simple steps to get started on the path to a good outcome.
Do You Even Need an Employee Assessment?
How do you know if you need an employee assessment? 1 in 4 of your employees will experience a health event (i.e. an injury or illness) that potentially can take them out of the workplace. This is not only disruptive to your business but there is real and significant harm that can happen to your employee due to long term worklessness. When faced with an employee’s medical issue it can be challenging for employers to find the support they need or even know what to do to support their employees in the best way they can. Despite wanting to be sensitive and accommodating to the needs of their employees, many employers can find it difficult to know exactly what is required of them in certain circumstances. If an employee requires a fitness to work or medical assessment, or they have requested a work from home accommodation for health reasons, many employers are unsure how to proceed. At Integra, we deal with these challenges every day and often see the same types of challenges across employers and industries. However, for an employer, the process can be unfamiliar, complicated, and the outcome uncertain which makes finding the right solution hard to determine. We are here to help! Integra offers free consultations to employers who are facing these challenges. To get the most out of a consultation, here are some simple steps to get started on the path to a good outcome.
Step 1: Outline the general situation and the reason an employee might need an assessment in the first place.
Tell us a little bit about the situation. We don’t need to know every detail, but a brief summary is helpful. Why are you requesting an assessment? What information are you looking to gather? What is the outcome are you seeking?
Step 2: Collect some details about the employee and their role.
a. What is the employee’s occupation?
b. Do you have a job description or job demands analysis for their position?
c. Is the job safety critical or safety sensitive? (For example, if a mistake is made, is there risk to the employee or to others?)
d. Is there any other type of risk to the employer or employee?
e. Is the employee aware of the referral and prepared to provide consent to participate? (See Tips on how to gain participation from your employee.)
f. Where is the employee located?
Step 3: Be clear on what your expectations are of Integra and the Medical Assessor.
Do you want Integra to secure copies of the employee’s medical file from the family physician as part of the assessment/review process?
Will you receive a fitness to work report (limited information focused on functional restrictions and limitations) or a full medical disclosure report (typically sent only to healthcare professionals on an HR team.)
Step 4: Contact Erica or Alexa at Integra.
We will help you determine if and what type of an assessment is appropriate or necessary. If an assessment is appropriate and/or necessary, Integra will handle all the details, including making sure the paperwork is completed and ends up where it needs to go.
Let us know if you need help securing copies of employee medical files from their family physician as part of the assessment review process. We have over 25 years of knowledge, experience, and insight, and Integra is ready to provide objective advice, assessment, and support to facilitate the best outcome for all stakeholders. Call us at 604.259.3141, we’d love to help you find a clear path forward.
Questions about a current case or file you are working on?