A Post Offer Employee Test or POET is a type of medical examination that requires a potential employee to ensure that their staff can physically and mentally perform the tasks required of them. The test shall be based on the actual demands of the job performed by an experienced professional or corporate physician that understands demands analysis. You wouldn't want a person who is 4'10" performing a job that has a reach well over their reach span. It just does not make sense, so the POET test acts as a barrier to ensure that you have hired the right person for the specific job. This is separate from ergonomics, in that ergonomics goes further to find solutions to change a workstation or the job while a job analysis will focus on understanding what a particular person is required to do for the various tasks in their job description. POET is used by employers to help better determine if a certain job candidate can securely and effectively perform the physical demands of the job for which they have applied. A post offer employment test will thus measure and test different medical and physical characteristics given the type of job and the physical requirements it entails. Note that most Post-Offer Employment tests include measurements of body fat and weight, range of motion, limb strength, amount of weight that can be safely lifted, among other elements. It is important to mention that a post offer employment test is not the same as a pre-employment physical. Whereas a physical is a very generic testing procedure, a POET exam will specifically test for the tasks of the job for which a candidate is being considered. Furthermore, a POET exam can only be processed after an employer has made an official job offer. As with drug testing and other similar tests, the employment opportunity will be contingent on the job candidate successfully passing the post offer employment exam. Employers who use POET exams generally hire trained medical professionals to develop detailed and distinctive testing criteria that are specific to the analysis metrics of the job description. Having consistent criteria for a POET exam is important, especially for employers who will be hiring several employees, or who have different job sites. Once a job offer has been given to an employee, a POET test generally takes an hour or less to perform. The test can be conducted by an outside vendor near your facility. These POET tests are tailored for specific job descriptions. The test includes a physical test in a gym including tests of sight and cognition too if applicable. These all must be in alignment with the physical and mental demands analysis. If you use a generic POET test or one that blatantly exceeds the actual job demands, you would be setting your company up for a legal dispute. Examples of actions performed during a physical include the demonstration of ability to push, pull, or lift certain weights at given frequencies, squat or reach at given levels. If a candidate does not pass this POET test, the job offer can be rescinded. Employers do sometimes allow a candidate to apply again and retake the POET test at a later date if the employee claims to not be at full capacity. Ergobility have staff experts that understand injury prevention and management to help you get your workers back to work and healthy. Our injury prevention and ergonomics prevention programs typically present a 30 percent decrease in cumulative related injury recordables. If your company is considering implementing a return-to-work program, injury or risk management, or ergonomics program contact Ergobility today. Our specialists can help your company develop and implement an effective Post-Offer Employment Test or various other ergonomics related programs.