Adapted from the BC Cancer Agency’s handbook Cancer and Returning To Work: A Practical Guide for Cancer Patients.
Directions
Note: If you will return to a new/different job, fill out the Analyzing Job Duties form for the changed duties
1) List your job tasks: Using the Task Analysis Worksheet (download below), write down all the tasks required for the job that you are going to return to in the Job duties column. Consider all of the duties and responsibilities of your job and the contexts in which you do them.
Task Analysis Worksheet
Get the Task Analysis Worksheet! By completing this short fillable PDF, you’ll discover the work tasks you can do and those that are more challenging. This can help inform your discussion with your healthcare provider and help in identifying job accommodations to allow you to return to work.
Download File size: 273kB
View an example completed form below, or download an example completed form as a PDF.
Note: To fill out the form on your mobile device (ex, iOS, Android) you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app.
2) Estimate the time each task takes: For each job task you record, estimate the percentage of time that you spend doing the task. For example, if you are a food server, you may spend 3.75 hours or 30% of each shift clearing tables. If you do periodic tasks over the month, write them in; for example, taking inventory 4 hours a month or .025% per month.
3) Identify essential tasks: Select the critical (essential) and the non-critical (non-essential) duties. Mark E for essential duties and NE for non-essential duties. To decide which duties are essential and which are non-essential, think about:
- Could the task be given to another employee/employer?
- How much time do you spend doing the task?
- How does the task affect getting the job done?
- Do the tasks exist to get the job done?
- How does your finishing this task affect the performance of other employees?
- Is your job highly specialized?
- If you are unable to do the tasks, what will happen?
- Which tasks does the employer think are essential?
4) Rank the tasks from most to least important to your job. Scroll down for an example of a completed form.
5) Share this worksheet with your physician so they are aware of the tasks that you will be expected to do.
Example completed Task Analysis Worksheet
You can also download this example as a PDF.
| Job task | % of time doing job task | Rank tasks by importance | Write “E” if this task is essential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serving customers | 4 hrs per 8-hr shift = 50% | 1 | E |
| Clearing and cleaning tables | 1 hr per 8-hr shift = 12.5% | 3 | E |
| Cleaning up at end of shift | 1/2 hr per 8-hr shift = 6.3% | 4 | |
| Making change and adding up tips | 1 hr per 8-hr shift | 2 | E |
| Continue completing the chart to identify all of your job tasks. |
