Developing suitable duties
Suitable duties (also known as light or alternative duties) are
meaningful job tasks selected from the injured worker's usual job
or another role. They are agreed between the worker and the
employer and take into account the worker's usual job, age,
education and training, work experience and the nature of their
injury. Suitable duties can be seen as a type of therapy using the
workplace as a way to safely upgrade an injured worker's fitness
while their injuries heal.
Why use suitable duties?
Suitable duties are used when an injured worker can do some work
but can't do all of their usual day-to-day jobs. Suitable duties
aim to return the worker to their pre-injury job and are suited to
the worker's injury and stage of recovery. They take into account
restrictions or other information on the medical certificate.
The short term goal of a worker's suitable duties program (SDP) is
to increase the hours they can work and the long term goal is for
them to return to their full time normal duties. The injured
worker's progress is reviewed regularly and adjusted as future
medical certificates are received.
What should you include on the
SDP?
- Goals or objectives of the overall program
- Tasks and duties to be performed by the worker
- Days and hours to be worked
- Restrictions or limitations
- Start, completion and review dates for the program
If you need help in designing a SDP for your injured worker or
the worker is not confident about coming back to work, you should
talk to your workers' compensation insurer.