Early return-to-work is an essential part of the University of Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation Program. Modified or transitional work should be provided whenever possible to employees who are temporarily unable to return to regular job duties as a result of a compensable on-the-job injury or disease.  Modified or transitional work must be within the employee’s physical capacities.  It may be a modification of the regular job duties or a temporary reassignment. The Claims Coordinator at Environmental Health and Safety is available to assist supervisors with workers’ compensation issues including modified work.

Modified work job offer letters will be completed for all employees returning to modified or transitional work following a workers’ compensation injury or disease.  Prior to returning to modified work, the employee must bring in a completed University of Oregon Employee Status Report (or other work status report from his/her physician).  The supervisor is responsible for completing the letter (or someone else acting in a supervisory or administrative capacity).  If the employee is released to regular work, do not complete the job offer letter.  It is only necessary for modified or transitional work assignments.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE JOB OFFER LETTER:

1. Obtain the Employee Status Report (or other work status report completed by the physician)  from the employee.
   
   
2. Determine modified work job duties within the restrictions set by the physician.
   
   
3. Complete the attached job offer letter.
   
   
4. Attach a copy of the physician’s modified work release to the job offer letter.
   
   
5. Have the employee read and sign the job offer letter.

1. If the employee is not currently working, send the letter to him/her by regular AND certified mail.  This assures that the employee receives notification of when to return to work and follows SAIF guidelines.
   
   
2. If he/she is returning to work on the day you receive the Employee Status Report, the letter can be completed at the beginning of the shift.

6. Send the completed job offer letter and any Employee Status Reports (or physician’s work status forms), to the Claims Coordinator, Environmental Health & Safety (72 Onyx Bridge) mailing address:  1230 Franklin Blvd, 5224 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5224.
   

Questions about the job offer letter, modified work or other workers’ compensation issues can be directed to Michelle Gillette, Claims Coordinator, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS); by phone 346-2958 or e-mail michgill@uoregon.edu.   A copy of the Job Offer Letter and/or the Employee Status Report can be obtained from the Claims Coordinator or at the EHS website http://oehs.uoregon.edu.

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• Modified Work Job Offer Letter
  
• Applicable Oregon Administrative Rules
• Return to Workers Compensation Forms
  

Contact:
Michelle Gillette
Campus Claims Manager
Phone: (541) 346-2958
E-Mail: michgill@uoregon.edu