Question

Psychologists are often asked to perform Fitness for Duty Evaluations for organizations in addition to law enforcement agencies. Why would an FFDE be necessary outside of police work. What is its intended use and what benefits does it carry. Please be specific and give examples of where and how it would be used. Do you agree with FTD procedures, why or why not.

Answer 1

Answer.

Psychologists often perform Fitness for Duty Evaluations(FDEs) in private corporations, universities, hospitals and other healthcare agencies and not just law enforcement agencies as employers are interested in knowing whether employees are capable of performing particular role expectations in their jobs in the near future. Such evaluations by professional psychologists help the organisations take th necessary steps in delegating highly stressful, emotionally challenging, physically strenuous or ethically difficult jobs to candidates who can manage psychological distress while maintains high standards in their job performance.

Moroever, other than helping the organisations in the process of elimination of unsuitable employees, Fitness for Duty Evaluations involve recommendations made by the psychologist about a set of effective interventions and training strategies that can be used to improve the employees ability to perform a highly complex job. These may involve counselling, retraining or treatment. For instance, if the FDE for a consumer relations officer in a private company reports that the designated officer is unfit for the job because of his short temper and susceptibility to external pressures, then the psychologist may make further recommendations about giving a time out or probation period to the officer till the time he feels better able to manage anger related to his interactions with angry and reprimanding consumers at work. The psychologist may mention a paid counselling or other self help sessions as a strategy to improve the consumer relations personnel’s effectiveness at work in the future.