Employers have a duty of care to employees who they believe may not be fit for work as a result of non-work related medical or psychological concerns. Fitness for duty assessments (also known as fitness for work assessments) are paid for by employers, with IIME facilitating expert medical and neuropsychological assessments to better understand the barriers to performance in relation to employment.
These assessments are not always directly related to injury or illness with an employee, though are always related to an employee’s health in one way or another – physical, mental and emotional. There are a number of situations where fitness for duty assessments are an appropriate course of action in the workplace, such as when a employer:
- Notes frequent or extended absences from work.
- Raises behavioural or performance concerns with employees in the workplace.
- Identifies medical grounds for a change in working conditions within the same organisation/role. This is likely to be required following an injury, illness or incident.
An employer may require or request a fitness for duty assessment when it is fair, justifiable and reasonable, and there are concerns about the employee’s health, wellness and safety in the workplace.
Occupational Therapists
Our experienced occupational therapists offer national in-home assessment services specialising in medico-legal reports for claimants with acquired brain injury, multi-trauma orthopaedic injuries, amputees and neurological health conditions.
- Standard case assessment reports assess and evaluate a client’s personal and domestic care requirements, minor home modifications, equipment and aids needed to assist with health conditions, as well as replacement costs. These assessments are conducted in the home and usually take between 1-2 hours.
- Complex case assessment reports consider a client’s long-term impairment and health condition which affects their communication, social interaction, learning, mobility, self-care and self-management. The comprehensive report includes recommendations relating to personal and domestic care requirements, minor home modifications, lifetime care, aids and equipment costs. Assessments generally take between 2-3 hours and are also conducted in-home.
Our Independent Fitness for Duty Assessments
Fitness for duty services are conducted by our team of health professionals such as occupational physicians and psychiatrists when requested through IIME. Our expert team of health professionals are able to conduct medical assessments through telehealth or in person consultations. With extensive experience in delivering these assessments, our health professionals offer reliable medico-legal opinions on an injury or illness that may or may not permanently impact the overall health of an employee.
How IIME Makes a Difference Through Independent Services
Our independent team of health professionals such as occupational physicians and psychiatrists prepare end-to-end fitness for duty assessments for employers. IIME’s end-to-end services ensure that each individual assessment details a worker’s injury and complete medical history, as well as a full assessment to determine clinical findings in relation to the employee to help inform next steps. This includes the authentication of the given employee’s fitness for work.
Fitness for Duty Assessment and Workers Compensation
Through accessing services that assess a worker’s fitness for duty, employers are able to understand whether or not that worker can continue to perform the duties required as part of their role with the organisation. This is where workers compensation becomes a consideration in the process, particularly as a worker medical assessment will be needed following an injury or incident in the workplace.
