Employee Fitness for Duty
A Fitness for Duty Evaluation can provide concrete information about an employee’s
level of functioning and appropriateness for their work environment. By requesting
a Fitness for Duty Evaluation, an employer demonstrates good faith in attempting
to resolve potentially contentious and litigious workplace situations.
Psychologists and psychiatrists selected by PsyBar can provide concrete information regarding employees’ abilities, risk factors, and assist in planning for return to work. Following the Fitness for Duty Evaluation, a preliminary report will immediately be delivered to you by telephone. This will be followed by a written report within four days of the exam. Typically, a Fitness for Duty Evaluation requires an extended interview between the employee and the doctor. On most occasions, the evaluation will include psychological testing beyond the face-to-face evaluation. The evaluation will cover background information, salient issues that led to the request for the evaluation, mental status, risk factors, and review of treatment to date. In addition, our doctors typically consult with the employer and/or other important "collateral" sources of information about employees’ behavior.
We will attempt to schedule the evaluation within four to five business days of your request. Urgent evaluations can sometimes be scheduled to take place in fewer than four days after the date you call us.
Employers should consider Fitness for Duty Evaluation when they observe any of the following behavior from employees:
- Threat of violence
- Impaired concentration
- Paranoid thinking
- Abusive behavior toward co-workers or customers
- Anxiety, depression, unexplained change in behavior, decreased efficiency, drug/alcohol use