Modified Duties
Modified duties (also called light duties or transitional work) are temporary, adjusted work tasks assigned to an injured worker during their recovery to keep them productively employed within their medical restrictions.
What Are Modified Duties?
Modified duties are temporary work assignments tailored to an injured worker's functional abilities. They bridge the gap between injury and full return to work, keeping the worker engaged and productive while respecting medical restrictions.
Examples of Modified Duties
- Administrative or clerical tasks for workers with physical restrictions
- Reduced lifting limits (e.g., no lifting over 10 lbs)
- Shortened shifts or reduced hours
- Alternative tasks within the same department
- Training or mentoring roles
- Workstation modifications (sit/stand desk, ergonomic tools)
Best Practices
- Base modified duties on medical documentation of functional abilities.
- Ensure duties are meaningful and productive - never punitive.
- Review and adjust duties as the worker progresses in recovery.
- Document all duty modifications and worker feedback.
Track Modified Duties with Make Safety Easy
Make Safety Easy allows supervisors to create modified duty plans, log daily task assignments and track progression toward full duties - providing WCB and legal documentation at every step.