Workers Compensation Light Duty Work

By far the most expensive part of many workers compensation claims is the indemnity benefit paid to the injured worker for lost wages.

Workers compensation light duty work. A light duty position is one that accommodates the employee s work restrictions. In most cases some temporary modification of duties can be made for an employee that would allow them to return to work in a limited capacity subject to his her medical restrictions. Implementing a light duty or modified duty return to work program at your company is great for business owners and for employees. Employers are not obligated to offer light duty work to employees seeking to return to work after an on the job injury.

It is not uncommon for employees who are on leave and receiving workers compensation benefits to be released to return to work with light duty restrictions. Under the workers compensation act no. Oregon for example requires employers with six or more workers to accommodate a returning worker whose doctor authorizes a return to work with light duty work restrictions. Here are some examples of light duty work.

In workers compensation cases employees are expected to remain on the job if it is determined they can safely perform the modified duty. But other state or federal laws may require employer your employer to accommodate your light duty work restrictions or to protect your job while you have work restrictions. Such temporary modifications are called light duty limited duty or modified duty assignments. An additional goal of light duty work is to ease you back into the workforce by minimizing the risk of re injury.

Light or modified duty is a temporary adjusted work assignment given to a worker injured on the job in order to accommodate his or her physical limitations while recovering from the injury. This reduces the amount of workers comp benefits paid to the employee and can ultimately lower the employer s insurance premium costs. As a general rule employers are not obligated to offer light duty work to workers seeking to return after a work related injury. There are however exceptions.

If you injure yourself at work in pennsylvania and start to receive pa workers compensation benefits your employer may offer you light duty work which means doing a job that is less physically or mentally challenging than the tasks required in your full time job position. To account for these situations some employers have designated light duty positions reserved for employees who are released to return to work on light duty after an occupational injury.