Medical Documentation

Sufficient medical documentation may be needed to assist our office in helping the employee with their accommodation request. The AWU will work with the employee to have them understand that they may require them to provide medical documentation (letter from a doctor, doctor's notes, etc.) outlining how their condition affects day-to-day functioning. The AWU will explain to the employee that it is important for the doctor's letter/notes to reflect the need for the requested accommodation. the AWU will review the employee's job duties, medical information, and other relevant information to suggest a reasonable and appropriate accommodation. 

What is Considered Sufficient Medical Documentation?

Sufficient medical documentation:

• Describes the nature, severity, and duration of your disability, the activity(s) that the disability limits, and the extent to which the disability limits your ability to perform the activity(s);
• Substantiates why the requested reasonable accommodation is needed;
• Is provided by a healthcare provider qualified to diagnose in the appropriate area of specialization; 
• Is on letterhead, typed, dated, signed, and otherwise legible; and
• Is based on a current evaluation (unless the condition is chronic and there is no change to the employee's condition).

Please note that all medical documentation will remain confidential with AWU. No medical documentation will be shared with the employee's supervisor. Additionally, the AWU will not share any specific diagnosis. However, they may share information about the employee's accommodation request so that the supervisor can actively participate in the accommodation process. For example, the AWU may tell a supervisor that an employee has a medical condition limiting their ability to remain seated for more than an hour.

Transitioning Back to Work from a Medical Leave of Absence

Employees seeking employment-related accommodations upon returning to work from a leave of absence in which the paperwork states long-term restrictions greater than six (6) months should follow the process noted above for a reasonable accommodation.