Post-offer employment testing, or POET, includes verifying a new employee can meet the physical demands of a job. Companies conditionally offer employment and potential new employees are evaluated to make sure they can meet the job’s essential functions.
A major prong of POET is safety. Making sure the right person can safely perform the right job can help decrease lost work time and potential workers’ compensation claims. Programs also provide answers to companies with questions about whether reasonable accommodations can be made in cases of workers who can complete some, but not all, essential job functions. In some cases, other positions may be available within a company with more suitable physical demands.
Though POET programs focus on prevention, they also play a role in potential workers’ compensation injuries, by assisting in identifying the job functions an employee can safely perform under restrictions during recovery. Facilitating an earlier return to work, additional lost days are avoided.
Completion of job analysis is a first step to establishing a POET program, as job duties and requirements are identified and used to produce a functional job description. This detailed document classifies job functions and their physical demands, enabling employers to more accurately match job seekers with appropriate positions.
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