Accommodations for Workers' Compensation
Goals & Objectives
The University of California Santa Cruz provides occupationally injured employees temporary modified work, as applicable, when they are temporarily restricted from performing the regular duties of their work by their workers’ compensation medical treatment provider. Studies have shown that employees often recover quicker from the effects of their injury when participating in a transitional modified work capacity.
Transitional Work Assignments (TWAs)
The modified work arrangements are referred to as Transitional Work Assignments (TWAs).
The modified assignments are discussed collaboratively between the employee, their supervisor and the UCSC Workers’ Compensation office through an interactive process to explore temporary accommodation options.
TWAs will be pursued outside of the injured employee’s home department when available if the home department is not able to accommodate their injured employee’s work restrictions.
Provision of Transitional Work is Beneficial
Employee:
TWAs allow employees to continue to be able to work at their regular rate of pay, reduce the potential for re-injury, have a quicker recovery, and an opportunity to gain new skills and work experience
An example would be if an employee sustains an injury to their leg and their current position requires standing and walking the majority of their shift. While your injury heals you may temporarily work in a sitting position.
What are the employee's responsibilities when working in a TWA?
- Perform their work safely and observe all restrictions.
- Notify their supervisors if they:
- Will miss work time before of scheduled medical exams and/or physical therapy.
- Experience difficulty performing the TWA.
Department:
TWAs allow departments to maintain productivity, decrease staffing shortage, and continue to be able to depend on the availability of the employee to perform the necessary and essential work of the University.
An example would be if an employee has sitting only temporary work restrictions, the employee may assist in administrative duties such as filing, or answering phone calls to maintain productivity.
What are the supervisor’s responsibilities when working in a TWA?
- Support employees by providing TWAs when able
- Monitor TWAs to ensure compliance of the temporary work restrictions.
Process
After an employee’s appointment with their workers’ compensation physician the office of Risk Services will obtain written documentation of the temporary work restrictions and any anticipated period of disability. Upon receipt of the written medical documentation, the Office of Risk Services will initiate an interactive dialogue with the employee’s supervisor and the employee regarding the establishment of a TWA.
If the supervisor and employee cannot determine an appropriate TWA, the Office of Risk Services will facilitate an interactive discussion between the supervisor and employee.
Workers’ Compensation TWAs will be documented by a TWA agreement and written for a period not to exceed 90 calendar days, unless otherwise specified by the Workers’ Compensation medical physician.
Every effort will be made to place the TWA assignment in the employee’s home department. If, however, the home department cannot provide a TWA , every effort will be made to develop a TWA assignment in a different department. The TWA will be reassessed at the employee’s next appointment or when the employee’s work restrictions change.
For Questions
Contact Cindy Delgado at cadelgad@ucsc.edu or 831-459-1787.
Contact Michelle Söhnlein at msohnlei@ucsc.edu or 831-459-2850
