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Expert TestimonyVocational expert testimony is generally applicable
in cases where an individual’s ability to work or sustain work has been
impacted by injury (physical or emotional), divorce, or employment
discrimination and must be remedied through a legal procedure. In this
category The Remas Group will perform a forensic assessment of an
individual’s wage-earning capacity pre- and post-incident. The
vocational assessment is founded on regional labor market data,
appropriate testing, thorough review of employment and medical records,
as well as a face-to-face interview. The Remas Group has been providing expert
evaluation and testimony in deposition or trial for 18 years. We are
familiar with all aspects of San Diego and regional labor market data
and the impact impairment or job change will have on activities of
daily living or a person’s ability to return to work. The scope of
testimony has included a wide variety of physical as well as emotional
conditions that are considered and compared to actual employment
information. The data is based on city, county, state, and federal data
and is pertinent to the specific case. The evaluation is objective and well defined
to accurately and realistically classify transferable skills and
determine past, current, and future employability and a person’s
probable earning capacity.
Mark Remas, MA, CRC is an experienced
Vocational Expert who is often utilized to evaluate cases and present
testimony to provide a Jury, Judge, A.L.J., or Mediator a clear
understanding of an individual’s ability to compete in the labor
market.
Family Law EvaluationUnfortunately not every marriage will last a
lifetime. In the spousal dissolution process there may be question as
to the earning capacity of either spouse. The Remas Group is expert at
determining an individual’s earning capacity based on education, work
experience, the present labor market, general aptitudes, and available
training options.
The vocational assessment is presented in a
comprehensive report for a reasonable fee. If testimony is required we
make ourselves available at the convenience of the court. The goal is
to present information in a clear and reasonable format that is based
on a sound foundation of identifiable labor market data. This objective
information can be used by the parties or the judge to determine
appropriate support, education benefits, and duration so that the
family can transition as positively as possible.
Career CounselingStatistically people will change jobs every few
years and change careers two to three times in their lifetime. In order
to make an effective career change it is best to understand what skills
and aptitudes are present and how those skills and aptitudes will
impact on the labor market and one’s earning capacity.
Whether you are just starting out in the work
force or looking into new occupations, the most effective way to design
a career path is to consult with a career counselor. A professional
career counselor uses interest and aptitude measures to help identify
your strengths. The information is used to focus the career search on
the field of greatest interest and ability. Then the counselor will
work with you to investigate the realities of the chosen occupation,
such as, the salary scale, the training or education required, the
employment outlook in your area, and the physical and emotional demands
of the job. An effective career change requires a well-developed plan
based on practical and realistic expectations.
The Remas Group has been in San Diego since
1984 and specializes in job placement and career counseling. Our
counselors work with you on a one-to-one basis and emphasize a personal
evaluation. Your needs and priorities are identified early and
supported with interest and aptitude testing. Our goal is to identify
and support you to find an appropriate job/career that you can pursue
with satisfaction and success. The Remas Group provides the full scope
of career counseling services from interest assessment through resume
service, right down to actual employment recruiting.
Employer SupportThere are a variety of federal and state laws that
direct employers to consider accommodation for an individual with
impairment. The accommodation could be required due to a medical
condition or an injury. Regardless of the cause, once the disability is
reported and the employer is aware of the condition, it falls on the
employer to investigate possible accommodations and implement them if
the employee requests accommodation and the cost is "reasonable".
The value of job accommodation is often found
after an employee has suffered an injury at work. By offering modified
or accommodated job tasks the employer is able to better control the
cost of an injury claim while protecting the company productivity and
morale.
The Remas Group has conducted expert job
analysis since 1984 and consults with employers on reasonable means to
modify a job or accommodate an employee with a disability. Most
accommodations are under $500 and can be in the form of slight
modifications of schedule, addition of simple equipment or just
realignment of existing equipment.
By having a consultant perform the job
accommodation evaluation the company is able to insure it is meeting
state and federal regulations for accommodation review. The company is
also able to keep valued employees productive while reducing the hidden
costs of replacement labor, lost work time, and increase in insurance
costs.
The Remas Group is able to provide the
accommodation evaluation and documentation for the employer. Most
reviews can be performed within a short time. For more information
contact Mark Remas, MA, CRC at 858-560-6733.
Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit aka VoucherCalifornia repealed the law requiring worker’s
compensation vocational rehabilitation for employees injured on the job
and unable to return to work. As of January 1, 2004 a person who is
injured so severely that he or she is unable to return to his or her
job is eligible for a benefit called the Supplemental Job Displacement
Benefit. AKA "Voucher".
The worker becomes eligible for a Voucher sixty
days after the medical treatment is completed or sixty days after
temporary disability payments are stopped by the insurance company. The
Voucher is "nontransferable" and is only to be applied to training
expenses such as tuition, books, or supplies. The voucher is worth
$4,000, $6,000, $8,000 or $10,000, depending on the severity of the
injury and the permanent disability rating approved by a WCAB judge. Unfortunately, the insurance company is not
obligated to offer a Voucher until the permanent disability award is
confirmed with the judge. This can leave the employee waiting to get
started on a return to work program for many months after the doctor
has stopped treatment.
The Remas Group provides vocational counseling
to recipients of a Voucher and can assist in designing the most
cost-effective and appropriate skill development program. The
counseling fees are paid out of the Voucher and are not borne by the
injured worker. If there is a delay in getting the Voucher the Remas
Group counselors know how to work with schools and financial aid to get
the training started and will work with the insurance company to
establish the Voucher value and have it dispersed as early as possible.
Vocational RehabilitationVocational rehabilitation is the type of recovery
that addresses a person’s ability to work. It is called into action
when a person develops barriers to activities of daily living, such as
working. If a person develops impairments due to an injury at work
prior to 1/1/2004 California requires the Worker’s Compensation
insurance company to provide a vocational rehabilitation program. Worker’s Compensation vocational
rehabilitation is a return-to-work program that is coordinated by a
vocational counselor and is to benefit the injured worker through
testing, vocational training, and job placement assistance. This
benefit allows an injured worker to use up to $16,000.00 to develop new
skills and seek new employment. The Worker’s Compensation insurance
company pays the cost of the vocational rehabilitation plan. This
program offers incentives for employers to hire injured workers and can
provide great support for work modification so that a person can return
to their field of expertise but with adjusted equipment, such as
voice-recognition software for computers, power tools, adjustable
workstation, etc. (http://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/rehab.html)
Another aspect of vocational rehabilitation is
associated with the Veteran’s Administration. In the event an active
duty service person is injured in the course of conflict or develops a
life-changing impairment as a result of their military service there is
a program to assist in their assessment and retraining. The government,
within limits, covers the costs. (http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/vre/)
The State Department of Vocational
Rehabilitation provides services to individuals who develop physical or
emotional impairments because of a disease or mental condition that is
outside of work. A person is required to undergo an assessment and must
meet eligibility criteria in order to receive the counseling and
training services. The extent of support depends on the severity of the
impairment(s). (http://www.rehab.cahwnet.gov/ )
In each instance, vocational rehabilitation is
a pragmatic and expeditious program that is geared to help someone with
an impairment who is facing a career change as a result of injury or
medical/psychological conditions The Remas Group has been providing vocational
rehabilitation services since 1984 and has a professional staff
consisting of Mark Remas, Nelly Katsell, and Larry Gonzales. The Remas
Group has specialized in all phases of vocational testing through
placement and can quickly address the needs of any party going through
a vocational rehabilitation program.
Job AnalysisThe Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair
Employment Housing Act require employers to review work performed by a
person with a disability and provide accommodation if the employee is
able to perform "the essential functions" of the job. It is important
for the employer to have a clear definition of the essential functions
and have a thorough job description.
The Remas Group is well seasoned in analyzing
job tasks and work function to develop a written report specifying the
essential functions, marginal functions and the extent of physical and
and intellectual demands associated with a specific job or class of
jobs. This is a valuable benefit to employers who want to protect
themselves from possible civil litigation due to a failure to consider
reasonable accommodation in the workplace.
The Remas Group performs this type of work on
an hourly or contract basis depending on the needs of the company.
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