Occupational Safety and Health Administration Logs

Who makes the decision that you return to work, occupational health or your doctor?

Just seen occupational health and they say that they make the decision when I should return to work after months off with work related stress, is this right I thought it would be my doctor. A risk assessment is going to be done beforehand by my line manager and HR as approved by occupational health but who will make the final decision, can anyone help?

Public Comments

1. You dont say who the Occupational health person is from -- your company? out patient? hospital? HR? Ultimately, yes it is your doctor who makes the decision. However, his or her decision may be based on recommendations from Occupational health evaluation if he/she requests it. Irregardless of your doctors determination though, your company might like to do their own evaluation to reassess your fitness for their job and decide on possible job readjustments. Generally though, it is your doctor who states whether you are fit or not to work.
2. In our case, the doctor called the shots and said our daughter couldn't go back to work yet. She was sure she would be able to do so. I suppose it depends on where you work. I have heard people say that their bosses demanded that they return to work.
3. Your doctor writes the recommendation--your human resource representative determines if the recommendations fit in with your job description... and it goes from there.
4. The occupational health person does the assessment. Your doctor will be the one who makes the recommendation. Generally, they will work hand-in-hand and their answers would be concordant.