When an employee sustains an injury or becomes ill, they may be unable to perform certain job duties or need time off from work.  The staff of the Work Connect Program will guide and assist Mayo Clinic Rochester employees and their supervisor through the leave process and eventual return to work.  The Work Connect Program is an integrated disability management program comprised of staff from the Claims, Return to Work, and Integrated Disability Coordinator sections in Recovery and Claims Services (RCS), the Nurse Case Managers in Occupational Health Services (OHS), and Human Resources.  The Work Connect Program is applicable to employees who sustain work related injury or illness and non-work related injuries and illness, including maternity and paternity leave requests.

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General Information  |  Employee Responsibilities  |  Supervisor Responsibilities

General Information

Work restrictions are written by an employee's treating provider and outline an employee's ability (or inability) to work.  If the employee is able to work, work restrictions outline what, if any, limitations the employee has in relation to the tasks they perform in their position.

Work Status Reports (WSRs) are issued based on a treating provider's recommendations. Staff from the Work Connect Program review the provider recommendations for clarity and insure the Work Status Report only contains restrictions for the ability to be at work and does not contain protected health information. Work Connect staff do not alter treating provider recommendations. If changes or clarification are required, the employee will be asked to contact their treating provider for this information.

Work Status Reports are required and will be issued for:

  • a medical condition that results in an absence from work of more than 3 days.
  • any active restrictions after the documentation was received by the Work Connect Program.

Work Status Reports are not required and will not be issued for:

  • a medical condition that results in an absence from work of 3 days or less.
    • If an employee's status changes and they will be unable to work for more than 3 days, a new work restriction document should be submitted to the Work Connect Program and a Work Status Report will be issued.

The final Work Status Report outlining restrictions is issued by Work Connect Program staff to the employee, their supervisor, and their assigned RTW Disability Compliance Advisor.

 

Employee Responsibilities

  1. Providing their treating provider with a blank Medical Status Report for Mayo Clinic Employees (MC2338-02) if they are unable to work or require work restrictions (including reduced FTE).
    • Other documentation is acceptable as long as the documentation contains:
      • 2 employee identifiers (employee name, date of birth, and/or Employee ID);
        • a Medical Record Number or MRN is not an employee identifier.
      • restriction start and end dates indicating the employee is unable to work, able to work reduced FTE, and/or able to work with specific restrictions;
      • information on specific medically-based work restrictions;
      • legible provider signature OR illegible provider signature with a printed provider name.
  1. Submitting work restriction documentation to the Work Connect Program via:
    • email to workconnectrestrictions@mayo.edu;
    • fax to Work Connect Program at 507-255-7198;
    • drop off paper copy to SMH Domitilla MN 101, Rosa Parks Pavilion 4th Floor, or Eisenberg SL-49.
  1. Discussing Work Status Report with their supervisor.
  1. Working with their Return to Work Disability Compliance Advisor if accommodations are needed or restrictions cannot be accommodated in their home work unit.

 

Supervisor Responsibilities

  1. Discussing work restrictions with your employee and determining whether their work unit is able to accommodate the restrictions.
  2. Working with the assigned Return to Work Disability Compliance Advisor if accommodations are needed, if the department cannot accommodate the restrictions, or if there are safety concerns regarding the employee returning to work.