Or. Admin. R. 839-006-0145

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 6, June 1, 2024

Section 839-006-0145 - Suitable Employment

(1) An employer required to return an injured worker to a vacant, suitable position under ORS 659A.043 or an available, suitable position under 659A.046, is not required to offer the worker a selection of suitable positions.

(2) In determining whether a particular position is suitable, the division will consider the employer's size, diversity, nature and pattern of position openings and whether the injured worker is qualified to perform the position.

(3) "Qualified" means:

(a) The injured worker meets minimum standards used by the employer to fill the position;

(b) The injured worker has performed the position in an acceptable manner; or

(c) The injured worker would be qualified for the position with the same training given to another worker newly placed in the position.

(4) For the purposes of ORS 659A.043, a "suitable position" is one that is most similar to the former position in compensation, duties, responsibilities, skills, location, duration (full or part-time, temporary or permanent), and shift. For the purposes of ORS 659A.046, a "suitable position" also meets the injured worker's medical restrictions.

(a) "Similar compensation" is the normal compensation the employer pays to others of the same education, skill and seniority employed in that position. This compensation may be greater than, the same as, or less than the rate the injured worker was earning at the time of injury, provided that it is not a subterfuge for the employer to avoid responsibilities;

(b) "Similar location" means that the position is within reasonable commuting distance, except where the former work site is no longer in operation or the nature of the employer's business routinely involves the transfer of employees. A position outside of Oregon is suitable if the worker and employer mutually agree.

(5) An employer is neither required to offer nor prohibited from offering a position that would promote the returning injured worker. A managerial or supervisory position is suitable for a returning injured worker whose former position was managerial or supervisory. Should a returning injured worker compete or bid for a managerial or supervisory position, nothing in this rule allows the employer to use the injury as a reason to discriminate against the worker.

(6) The employer may assign the injured worker to different duties at the worker's regular compensation provided that:

(a) The assignment is temporary and is part of a return-to-work program;

(b) The worker is returned to available and suitable work when the worker is physically capable; and

(c) The assignment is not a subterfuge for the employer to avoid responsibilities.

(7) If an employer offers a position that the injured worker believes the worker is physically unable to perform, the worker is not required to accept the position, but must provide verbal or written notice to the employer that the worker believes the worker is physically unable to perform the duties of the position. The employer may offer a suitable position or may require the worker to provide medical evidence of the worker's inability to perform the duties of the position. If an employer requires medical verification, the employer must give the worker written notice that the worker has 20 calendar days from the receipt of the notice to provide medical evidence of the worker's physical inability to perform the duties of the position.

(8) If an injured worker accepts an offer of suitable work and, after beginning the position, the worker is physically unable to perform the duties of the position, the worker must provide verbal or written notice to the employer that the worker believes the worker is physically unable to perform the duties of the position. The employer may offer a suitable position or may require the worker to provide medical evidence of the worker's inability to perform the duties of the position. If an employer requires medical verification, the employer must give the worker written notice that the worker has 20 calendar days from the receipt of the notice to provide medical evidence of the worker's physical inability to perform the duties of the position.

(9) If an employer offers an injured worker a position that the worker considers not suitable for reasons other than physical ability, the worker must accept the offered position. The worker must then provide verbal or written notice to the employer that the worker considers the position not suitable. The employer may offer a suitable position or may require the worker to provide the reasons, under the criteria of section (4) of this rule, that the worker considers the position not suitable. If the employer requires such information, the employer must give the worker written notice that the worker has 20 calendar days from the receipt of the notice to provide the reasons in writing.

(10) When an injured worker timely provides the evidence required in sections (7), (8) and (9) of this rule, the position will be considered not suitable and the employer must make a suitable position offer as required under ORS 659A.043 or 659A.046. If the worker fails to timely provide the information requested under sections (7), (8) and (9) of this rule, or the information is not sufficient, the position will be considered suitable.

(11) If the employer and the injured worker disagree about the suitability of an offered position, and the worker files a complaint as provided by statute and these rules, the division will determine the position's suitability.

(12) The Civil Rights Division may accept a complaint where a worker did not object to the position offered by the employer as required in sections (7), (8) and (9) of this rule when the worker had a verifiable, legitimate fear that an objection to the offered position would result in an adverse employment action.

(13) If an injured worker makes a timely demand for reemployment to an available, suitable position under ORS 659A.046, an employer is required to review all position vacancies for three years from the date of injury and to offer the injured worker the first available, suitable position provided no other conditions of OAR 839-006-0136 have occurred.

(14) If the injured worker's former position has been eliminated for bona fide reasons, and the worker makes a timely demand for reinstatement to the worker's former position under ORS 659A.043, an employer is required to review all position vacancies for three years from the date of injury and to offer the injured worker the first vacant, suitable position provided no other conditions of OAR 839-006-0131 have occurred.

Or. Admin. R. 839-006-0145

BL 1-1983, f. & ef. 1-26-83; BL 13-1990(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 9-4-90; BL 3-1991, f. 2-12-91, cert. ef. 2-15-91; BL 4-1996, f. & cert. ef. 3-12-96; BL 2-1998, f. & cert. ef. 2-3-98; BLI 14-1999 f. & cert. ef. 10-6-99; BLI 15-2000, f. & cert. ef. 8-11-00; BLI 10-2002, f. & cert. ef. 5-17-02; BLI 9-2006, f. 3-16-06, cert. ef. 3-20-06

Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805

Stats. Implemented: ORS 659A.043 & 659A.046