My employee wants to return to work. What should I do?
The Employee must have a release from the treating physician to return to work; with or without restrictions.
- Request a copy of the release form from the employee (doctor’s note or Texas Workers’ Compensation Work Status Report, TWCC-73) for the record and also submit a copy to the Dallas County’s Workers Compensation Section.
- Review any restrictions/limitations or time-off requirements for the employee.
Medical Clearance from the County’s Employee Health Center
- Prior to returning to work with restrictions, or without restrictions but having been off work due to an on-the-job injury for a period of time (30 days for law enforcement employees; 45 days for non-law enforcement employees), the employee must also have a release from the County’s Health Center Physician.
- Sheriff's Department employees only: Law enforcement employees assigned to the Sheriff’s Department (including DSOs) who have been absent from work due to an on-the-job injury for more than 10 days must receive medical clearance from the Employee Health Center. As soon as a provider releases the employee for either modified of full duty, the employee must contact the Workers’ Compensation division at 214-653-7667immediately to be scheduled for a medical clearance physical by the Employee Health Center.
- All Other Departments: If a non-law enforcement employee has been off work for more than 45 days due to an on-the-job illness or injury, the employee must receive medical clearance from the County’s Employee Health Center before returning to work. When a provider releases the employee for either modified or full duty, the employee must contact you or your department representative immediately to be scheduled for a medical clearance physical by the Employee Health Center.
Released back to work with restrictions: (either by a treating physician and/or the County’s Health Center Physician)
- An employee with restrictions cannot come back to work until a light duty assignment has been located. You must work with Dallas County Workers Compensation section to find a light duty job that will accommodate the employee’s restrictions.
- If an employee is released back to work with restrictions, and a light duty assignment is identified, you must provide the employee with a Bona Fide Offer of Employment (BOE) letter; s/he must then sign and date the letter and return it to you or the Dallas County Workers Compensation Section prior to or on the first day of his/her light duty assignment; NO EXCEPTIONS. Otherwise s/he cannot return to work.
- Submit a TWCC-6 Supplemental Report of Injury from the Workers’ Compensation section when the employee returns to work.
