Reference no: EM133337063

Case: Describe the problem briefly and summarize the positions and interests of those involved. Add and brainstorm some solutions. Add criteria that could be used in choosing a solution.

You have been responsible for disability management program administration at a large company for the past two years. You have been providing the doctors who treat employees with disabilities with information on the program and copies of the employee's job analysis. The company pays the doctors an additional fee to fill out return-to-work assessment forms. However, despite your effort, you are not satisfied with the information that physicians are providing in relation to what the employees can and cannot do. In most cases, it is too broad to provide guidance about modifying jobs. Your interest is ensuring that job is done well by assisting employees return to work and that they are in jobs that suit them well. So, at a recent meeting of the Disability Management Committee, you suggested making functional capacity assessments (FCEs) and/or second opinions mandatory if the return-to-work coordinator recommended these. You were surprised at the response that you received. Some staff members were absolutely against this suggestion and accused you of trying to doctor shop-of trying to find a doctor who would recommend a return to work, whatever the situation. Members who represented management jumped in and claimed that employees were basically telling doctors whether or not they felt they were able to go back to work and doctors were making recommendations based on the employees' self-reports of symptoms. This worried them because they believed it undermined the spirit of the RTW process and the authority of the medical professionals. Accusations and counter-accusations took up most of the last meeting.

You are concerned that this disagreement will destroy the desire for employees and management to co-operate in returns to work and that the union will not be supportive.