Medical Certificate for Reduced Work Days
[PATIENT] is receiving medical treatment for a medical condition and can continue working with a reduced schedule from [DATE] to [DATE] inclusive to optimize treatment adherence and functional outcomes.
Rationale for Reduced Work Schedule
Employees with medical conditions requiring ongoing treatment benefit from flexible work schedules to accommodate:
- Medical appointments and treatment sessions that may occur during regular work hours, allowing for therapy visits, medication management, and monitoring 1, 2
- Medication administration and side effect management during the workday, which may require short breaks or timing adjustments 1, 2
- Periods of symptom exacerbation where reduced hours prevent complete work absence while maintaining employment continuity 1, 2
Evidence-Based Accommodation Framework
The reduced work schedule serves as a reasonable accommodation that:
- Maintains employment engagement while addressing medical needs, which is preferable to complete work absence 1
- Allows gradual activity progression based on treatment response and symptom control 1, 2
- Prevents presenteeism (reduced on-the-job effectiveness) that occurs when employees work while symptomatic 1
Implementation Considerations
Flexible scheduling accommodations should include:
- Permission to attend medical appointments without penalty 1
- Reduced total work hours per week distributed across fewer or shorter days 1, 2
- Ability to take short breaks as needed for medication or symptom management 1, 2
This accommodation is typically low-cost and can significantly improve productivity compared to unaccommodated work or complete absence 2.
Duration and Re-evaluation
The specified time period from [DATE] to [DATE] allows for:
- Treatment initiation and stabilization with adequate time to assess efficacy 1, 2
- Gradual return to full duties based on clinical response rather than arbitrary timelines 1
- Re-evaluation at the end of the accommodation period to determine if full duties can be resumed or if extension is needed 1, 2
All accommodations must be tailored to the individual's specific medical needs and job requirements, with ongoing communication between the treating provider, patient, and employer 1.