Free download · BC employers

Free FAF Template for British Columbia Employers

A clean, practical Functional Abilities Form for BC employers managing return-to-work, accommodation requests, and WCB claims. Designed to cut the back-and-forth between you, your employee, and their treating practitioner.

What is a Functional Abilities Form?

A Functional Abilities Form (FAF) is a structured document that tells you what an employee can and cannot do following an illness or injury. Instead of vague notes from a clinic, you get a clear picture of medical restrictions, abilities, and the practical implications for the role.

In British Columbia, employers have a duty to accommodate employees with disabilities up to the point of undue hardship under the BC Human Rights Code. A good FAF makes that duty concrete: it documents the demands of the job, the employee's current capabilities, and the gap you need to bridge.

This template is built for the everyday BC employer — a small business owner, an HR manager at a mid-sized company, or a return-to-work coordinator. It's plain language, easy to fill in, and respects the practitioner's time.

What's in the template

Six clearly labelled sections — designed to be filled out together by the employer, employee, and treating practitioner.

Employee & job information

Captures role, employer contact, and the physical and cognitive demands of the position so the assessor has the full picture.

Medical restrictions & limitations

Structured prompts the treating practitioner can complete without writing an essay — lifting, sitting, standing, repetitive motion, cognitive load.

Functional abilities checklist

Plain-language abilities checklist mapped to common BC workplace tasks. Reduces ambiguity and back-and-forth with the clinic.

Return-to-work timeline

A simple framework for graduated return-to-work, expected review dates, and follow-up appointments.

Accommodation considerations

Space to record proposed accommodations and the employer's duty to accommodate up to undue hardship under the BC Human Rights Code.

Sign-offs & consent

Practitioner, employee, and employer sign-off plus a clean consent block for sharing medical information appropriately.

Who this is for

BC employers handling any of the following:

  • An employee returning from a medical leave with restrictions
  • A WorkSafeBC (WCB) claim where graduated return-to-work is planned
  • An accommodation request you need to document properly under the BC Human Rights Code
  • A long-term disability case where you need clearer information from the treating practitioner
  • Internal record-keeping for occupational health and safety files

Free template

Download the FAF template

Tell us who you are and we'll send you straight to the download. No credit card, no spam — just the template and the occasional update on related BC employer resources.

  • Editable
  • BC-specific
  • Built for real-world return-to-work

Get the template

Free download. Tell us a bit about you and we'll send you straight to the file.

We'll never share your details. Educational template — not legal advice.

FAQs

What is a Functional Abilities Form (FAF)?+
A Functional Abilities Form (FAF) is a structured document used by employers, employees, and medical practitioners to document an employee's functional capabilities following an illness or injury. It outlines what an employee can and cannot do, identifies any medical restrictions, and supports planning for return-to-work or workplace accommodations.
Is this template specific to British Columbia?+
Yes. The template is designed for BC employers and references the BC Human Rights Code's duty to accommodate. It's compatible with WorkSafeBC return-to-work processes but is not a WorkSafeBC-published form.
Is this legal or medical advice?+
No. This template is an educational starting point only. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for consultation with a treating practitioner, human-rights specialist, or employment lawyer. Every workplace situation is unique.
Why do we ask for your name, email, and company?+
We're building tools for BC employers and we want to know who we're building for. We use the details to improve future templates and may occasionally share related resources. We don't sell your data and you can ask us to delete it at any time.
Can I edit and adapt the template?+
Yes. You're free to use, edit, and adapt the template for your business. Treat the file as a starting point and tailor it to your organization, role demands, and the specifics of the situation.

Dealing with a more complex complaint?

If you're managing an HRT complaint alongside the return-to-work process, we can help. The Guide is built for exactly that.