Workers Compensation
Should you be rushing back to work after an on-the-job injury?
Dangers of Returning to Work too Early After a Workers' Comp Injury
Unfortunately, in many workers’ compensation cases, the employer’s interests may be at odds with the injured employee’s interests. As an example, most employers want to get their injured employee back to work as soon as possible. This might not be in the best interests of the employee for a variety of reasons. If you have been injured on the job, you must wait until you are fully healed and physically ready to handle the demands of your job, or you could end up being re-injured and potentially never making a full recovery. If your employer is pushing you to return to work before your doctor has cleared you, you might need to speak to an experienced Mississippi workers’ comp injury attorney. Some employers may tell their employee they won’t have to return to full duty if they come back, others may actually issue veiled threats about the possibility of being fired if the employee doesn’t hurry back to work.
Get If you are injured on the job and your doctor gave you a note with restrictions, your employer may offer you light duty work.
But what does that mean? What is considered light duty work?
Light (or Modified Duty) work means that your employer will place you in a less physically demanding job until you are healed. Alternatively, your employer might alter your existing job to fit within the restrictions set forth by your doctor.
However, some employers push their employees beyond the restrictions set forth by the doctor. If this is the case, it is important to tell your doctor and make an incident report with your employer. You want to do everything you can to protect yourself. One pitfall that a lot of injured workers get trapped in is pushing themselves to get back to regular duty too fast and sustaining further injury.
If you feel as though the company doctor is only looking out for the companies best interest, ask to be seen by another doctor on the panel list. Get a qualified certified workers compensation specialist if you have questions.
But what does that mean? What is considered light duty work?
Light (or Modified Duty) work means that your employer will place you in a less physically demanding job until you are healed. Alternatively, your employer might alter your existing job to fit within the restrictions set forth by your doctor.
However, some employers push their employees beyond the restrictions set forth by the doctor. If this is the case, it is important to tell your doctor and make an incident report with your employer. You want to do everything you can to protect yourself. One pitfall that a lot of injured workers get trapped in is pushing themselves to get back to regular duty too fast and sustaining further injury.
If you feel as though the company doctor is only looking out for the companies best interest, ask to be seen by another doctor on the panel list. Get a qualified certified workers compensation specialist if you have questions.