Eligibility: This policy applies to all staff who sustain a job-related occupational injury as defined by the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.

The Return-to-Work program shall consist of two (2) phases:

Phase I -Limited Work Program

All staff with medically defined restrictions or needs who are unable to return to their department will fall under the coverage of the Limited Work Program for up to 90 days.

Phase II – Alternate Work Program

All staff who at the end of the 90-day period remain unable to perform the essential functions of their pre-injury employment, or suitable employment is not available within their department, will be eligible for the Alternate Work Program. The staff member’s department remains responsible for 100 percent of the compensation for a staff member in the Return-to-Work Program until the staff member is placed into a suitable position.

Suitable Employment: A department's inability to provide suitable employment must be documented. The documentation of circumstances will be referred to the Executive Vice President or Provost for review and determination on placement.