[MCIC Safety] Question for the groups: Light duty/volunteer work program

Mon Mar 17 18:45:28 EDT 2008

This is what our HR manager thought of it.  Thanks!

Penny

I have never heard of this type of program. It seems risky from a
company's standpoint in that the company isn't managing the work comp or
STD case but the volunteer agency is doing the managing. I couldn't
imagine Dow Corning doing this. I would want our employees to get well
enough for us to bring them back to work at Dow Corning. If they are
well enough to volunteer then we would be able to have back at work on
light duty.

Bottom-line: It is all about managing these cases so employees can get
back to work either on light duty or full duty.

Kelly

Penny S. Partido 
EH&S Operations Coordinator 
Tel#:  336-547-7129 
Fax#:  336-547-7126 
Mobile:  336-202-6094 
Email - p.s.partido at dowcorning.com 

________________________________

From: Meurs, Debbie [mailto:Debbie.Meurs at greensboro-nc.gov] 
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 1:49 PM
To: Kareis, Michelle; safety at mcicnc.org; Charles Mortimore; Clarice
Garrett; Dorothy Vannoy; Jim and Mary Husted; Alice Rimmer Degussa;
Barry Tilley High Point Fire; Buddy Carter Duke Energy; PARTIDO, PENNY
S. (PSPARTID); Ron Campbell Guilford Emergency Services; Sharon Drescher
Syngenta; Wyrick, Terry; vickie Lovelace Lorillard Tobacco; Bronwyn
Morgan; Chris Studley Douglas Battery; dick; George McClintock Univar;
Jim Korkowski; MUSSER, KEVIN J. (KJMUSSER); kim plaster; Phil Walsh Tri
City Mechanical; Sam Lewis
Subject: RE: Question for the groups: Light duty/volunteer work program

I've sent this to our HR....who thought it interesting and will be
evaluating it....which means we may not hear anything more on it.

I think it's a great idea.

________________________________

From: Kareis, Michelle [mailto:mkareis at Vertellus.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:29 PM
To: safety at mcicnc.org; Araujo, Edu (Momentive Performance Materials);
Ana Davis; bill nieland; Charles Mortimore; Clarice Garrett; Meurs,
Debbie; Dorothy Vannoy; Jim and Mary Husted; Alice Rimmer Degussa; Barry
Tilley High Point Fire; Buddy Carter Duke Energy; Faron Leigh Colonial
Pipeline; K. Jones Guilford County; Kareis, Michelle; Mindy Lepard
Guilford County; Penny Partido Dow Corning; Ron Campbell Guilford
Emergency Services; Sharon Drescher Syngenta; Wyrick, Terry; vickie
Lovelace Lorillard Tobacco; Bronwyn Morgan; Chris Studley Douglas
Battery; dick; George McClintock Univar; Jim Korkowski; kevin musser;
kim plaster; Phil Walsh Tri City Mechanical; Sam Lewis
Subject: Question for the groups: Light duty/volunteer work program

Has anyone ever heard of/participated in a program where employees on
light duty were assigned to work for a local volunteer organization,
within their restrictions, until the restrictions were lifted?  I was at
a safety conference in Indiana last week and a company representative
was presenting his program for doing this.  I wanted to know if anyone
else had experience with a similar program they'd be willing to share.

Essentially, when an employee is returned to work with restrictions that
prevent them from conducting their normal work (the plant was a parts
manufacturer that works on a piece basis), the employer first verified
the local volunteer agencies could work within the restrictions, then
sent the employee to work there until the restrictions were lifted.
Some examples he gave were of individuals with lifting, bending,
standing, or sitting restrictions.  The employees were assigned to
things such as sorting books and clothes for the charity store, working
in the food kitchen, or, in one extreme case, an employee who had one
pound lifting restrictions in both wrists was assigned to read to
children in the preschool program.  The volunteer agency appreciated the
employee work, and the employees were returned to meaningful work much
more quickly than they would have been otherwise.  Additionally, because
the variety of work available was so significant, the company was able
to almost completely eliminate restrictions resulting in lost time days.
The volunteer agency provided updates on employee time, attendance, and
attitude (serious problems were reported daily, other issues were dealt
with in weekly email or face to face communication between the safety
person and the volunteer coordinator).  Employees were paid full salary.
The employer was required to provide a letter to the agency stating that
the employees were covered under the employer's insurance and not the
volunteer agency's.

The overall result was positive.  The employer received considerable
recognition from the press for providing paid labor for the volunteer
agencies, the employees appreciated being able to contribute in their
community, and the agencies were extremely appreciative of having people
there to help out.

If you've heard of or participated in something like this and have
anything to add (pitfalls to avoid, suggestions, etc.), please let me
know.  Feel free to forward this around to others who may have input as
well.  I'm intrigued by the idea.

Thanks for your help.  Have a safe day!

Michelle

Michelle Kareis 
EHS Manager 
Vertellus Performance Materials Inc.

Greensboro, North Carolina

336-834-4903 
mkareis at vertellus.com 

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