You recently injured your back, and now you’ve been given the okay to go on light duty at work.
Part of you wants to scream, “Thank goodness!” But the other, more cautious part of you can’t help but ask, “What exactly will I be doing at work?”
If you have an active Workman’s comp claim, it’s critical that you understand what light duty work restrictions are and how they will affect your role.
Fortunately, we’ve compiled a brief guide on these restrictions so that you know how your job will look going forward.
Table of Contents
Let’s dig in
What Is Light Duty?
In the majority of states, employers have to offer their employees light-duty work when these employees are hurt on the job if this type of work is available.
Light duty work may range from supervising other workers to taking inventory.
In addition, workers usually must accept this work if their treating physicians approve of the duties they will be performing.
Note, though, that accepting this type of work doesn’t mean you’ll automatically lose your disability benefits. If the payment you receive for your light-duty work is lower than the amount you earned prior to your accident, you’ll likely receive the difference when you receive your disability payments.
Can Your Reject Light Duty Work?
Thinking about turning down a light-duty opportunity? Don’t. This can negatively affect the benefits you receive for light-duty workman’s comp.
Specifically, you may lose the right to receive benefits by refusing to accept doctor-approved light duty work.
Additional Considerations Regarding Light Duty Work Restrictions
When it comes to workers comp light duty, you may be asking, “How long can you stay on light duty?”
The reality is, no legal limits exist for how long employers can keep employees on light duty. You can stay for the amount of time that your physician has you on restrictions at work.
Also, note that it is not legal for your company to terminate you just because you refuse to perform tasks that your physician says you should not do.
Furthermore, be sure to record the date that you were started on your light-duty tasks. And keep detailed records of the conversations you have with your employer regarding your light duty arrangement.
Keeping solid records will help you to protect your best interests in the event that your employer decides to remove you from light-duty too soon.
How We Can Help
In addition to highlighting light duty work restrictions, we offer a wide range of tips and advice related to construction and design.
For instance, you can find out important tips for maintaining your roof or even the latest trends in the construction industry. In addition, you can even discover through our site how to reduce your utility bills.
Explore our site to learn more about how to enhance your quality of life both personally and professionally today.
