Human Resource Administration

Leadership on all human resource-related issues

80 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881

urihr@ucs.uri.edu401.874.2416 - 401.874.5741 (fax)

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Date: December 1988

LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES

I. PURPOSE:

To establish guidelines addressing the continued employment rights and responsibilities of employees with life-threatening illnesses and their co-workers.

II. APPLICABLE TO:

All University employees.

III.    RESPONSIBILITY:   

1. It is the responsibility of the employee to provide physician certification as required when discharging and returning from sick leave.

2. It is the responsibility of the supervisor/manager to handle the employee’s health condition confidentiality and take reasonable precautions to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for their employees.

3. It is the responsibility of the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Administration to administer the overall policy procedures.

IV:  POLICY

The University recognizes that employees with life-threatening illnesses, including but not limited to cancer, heart disease and AIDS, may wish to continue to engage in as many as their normal pursuits as their condition allows, including work. As long as these employees are able to meet acceptable performance standards, and medical evidence indicates that their conditions are not a threat to themselves or others, managers should be sensitive to their conditions and be sure that they are treated consistently with other employees. At the same time, the University has an obligation to provide a safe work environment for all employees and students. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that the employees’ condition does not present a health and/or safety threat to other employees or students.

Consistent with this concern for employees with life-threatening illnesses, the University offers the following range of resources available through the Office of Human Resource Administration:

  1.  Education of management and staff on terminal illness and specific life-threatening illnesses.
  2. Referral to agencies and organizations which offer supportive services for life-threatening illnesses.
  3. Focused consultation to assist employees in effectively managing health insurance, leave, and other benefits.

V. PROCEDURES

  1. When dealing with situations involving employees with life-threatening illnesses, managers should:

a. Remember that an employee’s health condition is personal and confidential. Reasonable precautions should be taken to protect information regarding an employee’s health condition. They should be sensitive to the fact that continued employment for an employee with a life-threatening illness may sometimes be therapeutically important in the remission or recovery process or may help to prolong that employee’s life.

b.  Contact the Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Administration if they or any other employees need information about terminal illness and specific life-threatening illness. Consultation and guidance will be given to assist in managing situations involving employees with life-threatening illnesses. Any concerns about the possible contagious nature of an employee’s illness should be addressed to the Assistant Vice President for Human Resource Administration.

c.  Make reasonable accommodation for employees with life-threatening illnesses consistent with the needs of the division/union and Collective Bargaining Contracts. Also, consistent with Collective Bargaining Contracts, managers should make a reasonable attempt o transfer employees’ with life-threatening illnesses who request a transfer and are experiencing an undue emotional stress.

d.  Be sensitive and responsive to co-worker’s concerns and emphasize employee education available through the Office of Human Resource Administration and the Rhode Island Employee Assistance Program. However, no special consideration need be given beyond normal transfer requests for employees who feel threatened by a co-workers life-threatening illnesses.

e.  Consult with the Assistant Vice President of Human Resource Administration to determine if a statement should be obtained from the employee’s attending physician that continued presence at work will pose no threat to the employee, co-workers or students. The University reserves the right to require an examination by a medical doctor appointed by the University.

 2.  Employees are required to submit a Physician’s Certificate for sick leave (USP-14) to the Office of Human Resource Administration.

3.   Employees should be encourages to seek assistance from established community support groups for medical treatment and counseling services. Information for these can be requested through the Office of Human Resource Administration or directly from the Rhode Island Employee Assistance Program.

FORMS:

USP-15:Physician’s Certification – Employee’s Sick Leave


USP-16:    Physician’s Certification – Return from Sick Leave

 

 


  

 

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