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Occasionally, we get questions about the usual return-to-work
fitness-for-duty process for an employees who have been absent on medical
leave for non-work related illnesses or injuries. This message is designed
to help clarify how the process usually works.
- If an employee has been granted MLOA from his/her Division, the MLOA
notification letter contains instructions regarding the return-to-work
process. This letter also contains a MEDICAL STATUS FORM to be used once
the treating physician recommends that the employee can return to work
with or without restrictions.
- The physician is to complete the MEDICAL STATUS FORM and fax it to
the BNSF Medical Department (to the fax number noted on the form).
- The BNSF Medical Department then reviews the medical information
provided on the MEDICAL STATUS FORM.
- Depending on information received, the Medical Department may
request additional medical documentation. The treating physician and the
employee are contacted regarding this requirement.
- Once the request has been made of the employee's physician, it is
then the employee's responsibility to ensure the physician provides the
information to BNSF Medical Department.
- if the requested information supports fitness-for-duty with or
without restrictions, the BNSF Medical Department coordinates a return
to work plan with the employee and his/her supervisior. If the
information does not support fitness-for-duty, the BNSF Medical
Department continues to work with the employee regarding benefits
retention and furthere medical services which may allow eventual return
to work.
- Another source of information regarding this return-to-work
fitness-for-duty process is the following BNSF Web site:
https://employee.bnsf.com:8443/http://bnsfweb.bnsf.com/departments/hr/medical/offduty-offproperty.doc
This is how the process usually works.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call BNSF Medical Department
Manager, Clinical Services, at 817-352-1628 or the Labor Relations
Team.
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