(a) All employees who are unable to perform their normal job duties due to a work-related accident, injury or illness may, at the employer's sole discretion, be entitled to receive his or her regular compensation during such period of disability, up to 12 weeks, in accordance with the Village's Transitional Work Program. Transitional work assignments should be at least 10 hours per week and may not exceed 40 hours per week. No overtime is available to program participants. The period of disability may be extended beyond 12 weeks for a short period of time only under the advice of the medical provider and approval of the Village's Transitional Work Coordinator and the Mayor.
(b) Work will be assigned based on the nature of the injury or illness and the limitations set forth by the employee's health care provider. Work restrictions must be temporary and not permanent. Only employees who have sustained a work-related injury or accident, and have completed the appropriate paperwork with the Fiscal Office, may participate in the Transitional Work Program.
(c) While in the Transitional Work Program employees will continue to receive their full wages and will not be receiving wage benefits through the Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Eligibility for any pay increase while on a transitional work assignment will be the same as for any injured worker performing his/her regular job duties in the same position. Absences from work during transitional work assignment for reasons unrelated to a workplace illness or injury will be handled in accordance with the personnel policies of the Village of Walton Hills.
(e) Any employee disabled as a result of negligence, failure to follow standard safety procedure or failure to wear safety equipment provided shall waive the right to any claim under this section.
(Ord. 1982-40. Passed 9-2-82; Ord. 2015-7. Passed 10-20-15; Ord. 2016-17. Passed 12-20-16.)