Light Duty Work and Workers’ Compensation Return To Work Policy

Your employer may offer you light-duty employment if your doctor advises you to return to work with limits after an on-the-job injury.

What Is Return-to-Work Policy?

These rules are meant to help injured, or sick workers reintegrate back into the workforce as they recuperate. Employees may profit from establishing a return-to-work policy by reducing the time they need to take out of work to heal and returning to their regular work schedule more quickly.

Employers may also save time by not having to look for and train a new employee and boost output and productivity among individuals who are healing while working, all of this while retaining a key employee.

The return-to-work procedure for workers should be made transparent by companies. A leave of absence is more likely to be accepted when an employee cannot perform his/her job tasks due to an accident, illness, or mental or behavioral health issue.

What Is Light-Duty Work?

To aid in an employee’s recovery from an accident or sickness, employers may assign them to less physically or intellectually demanding work than is customary, known as “light-duty labor.” Light-duty employment is commonly given to employees who have been wounded on the job, but it may also be offered to those ill or injured outside of the workplace. Often referred to as “light-duty accommodation,” rescheduling a worker’s tasks may assist your organization meets disability standards.

Workers’ Compensation Return-to-Work Restrictions

An injured employee’s work constraints define what they can and can’t perform at work. A treating physician may impose employment limitations on a patient after receiving workers’ comp payments. After a recovery period from a serious illness or accident, workers adhere to work restrictions.

If you cannot accommodate your employees, they may be eligible for a monthly benefit check. A fraction of what they would have earned if they had been allowed to work full-time is reflected in the check.

Examples Of Light Duty & Work Restrictions

Work constraints, as previously indicated, might vary from person to person. This means that the definition of “low duty” will be different for everyone. Some persons can still do some modest physical tasks, while others may no longer be able to utilize particular bodily parts. Light-duty duties include –

• workplace chores
• monitoring security cameras from a desk job
• overseeing construction sites
• chores of the office
• conducting sales calls and keeping track of inventory
• performing inspections to ensure safety
• establish a safety training program for new staff

The Effects Of Work Restrictions On Your Benefits If You Do Light Duty Work

Light-duty job limits might influence your workers’ compensation payments, which you should be aware of.

Workers ‘ compensation payments are granted if your accident stops you from generating an income. As a result, if you decide to return to work, you’ve shown that you’re self-sufficient.

Your benefits will be terminated if your light-duty work pays you more than or equivalent to what you were earning before the accident. You’ll continue to get partial disability benefits even if your current income does not reach your former income.

Conclusion

Workers who have been wounded should take advantage of any opportunities for light or reduced-duty work that come their way. Workers’ compensation payments might be jeopardized if an employee fails to show up for work on a particular day. Requesting an extension of the start date or time is permitted, but if it is not granted, the worker must provide a very excellent explanation for not showing up to work.

Mike

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