The Board of Education's philosophy regarding return to work will be the following: to pursue and make an effort to return employees to work within the legislative requirements mandated by School Laws of West Virginia.

The Board recognizes that employees are an important factor to the success of the Board. Providing a learning and workplace environment that is safe and healthy for students and employees is a focal point. The Board has established a return-to-work policy in order to assist employees after an incident on the job.

The purpose of the policy is to promote and support the return of employees who are injured on the job to full duty as soon as they are medically able. The Board also believes that the best way to meet this objective is to provide opportunities to employees to return to work as soon as medically possible.

All employees will be trained and required to participate in the program. The return to work program should assist in the employee's recovery as well as being productive and economically feasible for the Board. The employee's health and safety shall be the first priority in the decision process. The return to work program will be applied fairly and consistently to all employees. Employees will receive the normal wage for the time worked.

The Director of Safety and Health will contact the employee and also communicate with the medical provider. The employee's normal work duties will be modified to accommodate the employee as well as arrangements to meet the needs of the individual department or school that the return to work program effects.

The Director of Safety and Health and immediate supervisor will immediately develop and recommend to the Superintendent a plan consisting of transitional duties. A cost-benefit analysis will be used in the decision process. Each case must be reviewed and duties reassessed periodically.

Rehabilitation referrals should be considered for those cases that involve extended lost time.

Any employee released to return to transitional duty and refuses to return to work may have their benefits terminated by Workers' Compensation.

All employees will be trained on the Safety Policy, Return to Work Policy, and Procedural Handbook.

Adopted 8/17/09