4.15.080 Physical examination.
A. After an offer of an appointment to a position, the city may require an applicant to pass a physical examination conducted by a city-approved medical provider at city expense.
B. If the city manager or department director has reason to believe that a current employee has a physical or mental condition which substantially interferes with the employee’s ability to perform the essential functions of his/her position in a safe and proficient manner, the personnel officer or department director, with the prior written approval of the personnel officer, may in writing require the employee to submit to a fitness for duty examination. If the city selects the medical or mental health professional, the city shall pay for the fitness for duty examination. If the employee elects to obtain a second opinion it will be at the employee’s expense.
C. If an employee suffers an injury or illness which prevents the employee from fully performing his or her essential functions of his/her job, the employee’s department director may offer the employee light duty where such is approved by a medical or mental health professional and where the medical or mental health professional has released the employee for such light duty. The personnel officer shall be notified of the light duty status.
1. Light duty may be assigned in a department other than the employee’s home department with the concurrence of the receiving department director.
2. The employee’s department shall pay for all light duty pay if the employee works in a different department, at the discretion of the city manager.
3. If light duty is not available, the employee must remain off the job until released by a medical or mental health professional to perform the essential functions of his/her position with or without accommodation.
4. When the employee is able to perform the essential functions of his/her position and a medical or mental health professional’s written release to that effect has been received by the personnel officer, the employee shall be reassigned to the normal position in due course; provided, that:
a. The medical release is received within 18 weeks of notice of the injury or illness; and
b. The position still exists and is not then filled by a regular employee who is not in a promotional probationary period.
D. If an employee is unable to return to work due to injury or illness that prevents them from performing essential job functions due to injury or illness, the employee shall advise his or her department director in writing. The department director may request physician updates on the status of the employee. (Ord. 12-001 § 3, 2013)