If your work injury prevents you from doing your former job, vocational rehabilitation and adapted work choices may be able to assist you in keeping working. Employers who keep employment available for wounded workers are likewise prohibited by Ohio law. Contact a workers’ comp lawyer Richmond, VA, for a free consultation if you want assistance with your workers’ compensation claim following a permanent work-related injury.
What are return-to-work programs?
After a job injury, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation and your managed care organization will help you return to work. You may be eligible for light or limited duty, and there are vocational rehabilitation programs to help you transfer. The Remain at Work program seeks to reduce the impact of your injury on your job.
You can seek vocational rehabilitation assistance from your managed care organization. If you participate in a rehabilitation program, you may be eligible for living maintenance benefits instead of temporary disability payments. If you need to find new employment, you may be eligible for rehabilitative wage loss benefits to augment your income.
What are modified work duties?
As you heal, your doctor may recommend a limited return to work. To meet your limits and encourage your recovery process, your company may provide reduced working assignments or transitional employment. Modified labor entails adjusting, changing, or removing impediments, whereas light-duty work minimizes physical demands. Alternatively, you may be able to do many jobs at the same firm while utilizing your other talents and abilities.
Unable to return to an old job:
Your employer is not required to provide alternative work if you are unable to return to your old job due to a working injury. If they do provide housing, it may be low-paying, producing financial issues. Working wage loss compensation may be available to help you bridge the gap between your prior and present earnings. Finding a new job can be difficult, especially if you have persistent physical restrictions as a result of your disability, which can cause financial and physical difficulties.
Final thoughts:
Employers are not required to keep your employment available if you are injured on the job. They cannot, however, remove you just for filing a workers’ compensation claim, since they must have sufficient reasons for dismissal that are unrelated to the claim. Following a workplace accident, vocational rehabilitation can help you find new employment that suits your limits. You may also be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical costs and lost income.
