Can an employer request a medical assessment of an employee's fitness for work?
In Florida, employers can indeed request a medical assessment of an employee’s fitness for work. This assessment can be done for a variety of reasons, including if the employer is worried about the employee’s health impacting their work performance, if they feel the employee poses a safety risk for themselves or others, or if the employer is looking to make accommodations for the employee. The employer must make sure, however, that they have a valid reason for requesting the assessment. Generally, the assessment must be related to the employee’s work duties and responsibilities. Employers should not ask for a medical assessment based on their own assumptions, assumptions made by other people, or any discriminatory reason. Employers must also be aware that any medical information they receive from the assessment must be kept as confidential as possible. This means that the information should only be used for legitimate business reasons, not to make any decisions about the employee’s employment or to discriminate against them in any way. Overall, employers in Florida can request a medical assessment of an employee’s fitness for work, but there are very specific requirements that must be followed to ensure that the law is not broken and the employee’s rights are protected.
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