Lifting Requirements

atherese

We are a private long-term care facility. A new employee went through our pre-employment screening for a Certified Nursing Assistant and did not pass some of the lifting requirements. She lifted 31 of the required 75 pounds. There were other issues during her screening also, very poor body mechanics. We needed to recind the job offer. She is stating that our screening has unreasonable lifting expectations of our employees. She is one of the few to not pass our screening in several years. Would anyone in the healthcare field share what physical and lifting requirements you have for your nursing staff (RNs, LPNs and Nursing Assistants). Thank you!

System

The real issue is whether lifting 75 pounds is really essential to this specific job. And courts are really picky about this. A fire department required applicants to drag a heavy hose a certain distance. Sounds essential? No, the court said the test required a lot more strength that the job really required.

Even if your test is too tough, does this person claim that it discriminates against her because of her gender or disability? Being a fluffy couch potato isn't a protected class.

By the way, have you heard about our new Health Care Employment Law Letter?
[url]http://www.hrhero.com/healthcare.shtml[/url]

James Sokolowski
Senior Editor
M. Lee Smith Publishers