A fit-for-duty evaluation is generally used when an employer needs appropriate professional guidance about an employee’s ability to perform work-related duties. The scope of an evaluation depends on the job, the situation and applicable requirements.
A role-specific question
The central question is not whether someone is generally fit. It is whether the person can safely perform the documented essential functions of a particular role, with the appropriate input from qualified healthcare and legal professionals.
Where PCP fits
Physical Capacity Profile testing provides objective physical measurements that an employer and its advisors can consider in the context of a role’s documented demands. PCP testing is not a medical or psychological fit-for-duty examination and does not make the employment or return-to-work decision.
Use a defined process
Employers should apply a consistent, role-specific process and seek qualified advice when an employee’s health status, accommodation needs or return-to-work status is involved.