Miami County adopts updated workers' compensation and temporary light-duty policies

The Miami County Commission on March 26 adopted revisions to its personnel rules to clarify injury leave, establish a formal workers' compensation processes policy and add a temporary light-duty assignment policy that sets a six-month guideline for accommodated work.

Sarah Denney, interim human resources director, told the commission the amendments update section 7.16 (injury leave), add a new policy 7.27 (workers compensation processes) and add section 7.28 (temporary light duty assignments). Denney said the temporary light-duty language “sets those guardrails and expectations of employees and supervisors” and noted the county will determine what work qualifies as light duty.

Denney also said the light-duty template was provided by the law firm Fisher Patterson; she and county staff worked with legal counsel to refine the rest of the workers' compensation language. A commissioner asked how long staff had worked on the language; Denney and another staff member said HR and county counsel spent substantial time—about a day—to develop the provisions.

The policy package was moved and seconded on the record and approved by unanimous voice vote. The adopted language: - Updates injury leave procedures (section 7.16) to align with workers' compensation reporting and leave accounting. - Adds policy 7.27 to describe workers' compensation processes and compliance responsibilities for employees, supervisors and HR. - Adds section 7.28 to permit temporary light-duty assignments, generally limited to six months, and states the county will determine which duties are appropriate for accommodation.

The commission directed HR to publish the updated policies and notify departments; HR will file the changes with the clerk and post them on the county intranet.