In legal terms, an injured worker’s “healing period” is the time between the initial injury and the day he or she returns to work. At the end of the healing period, he or she may be ready to resume work as usual, or still have lingering symptoms that make some job functions impossible. In the latter case, the employee will likely be assigned to light duty until he or she fully recovers.
Unfortunately, workers on light duty (also known as a restricted return to work) are not always treated fairly or even legally. If your employer has failed to respect your rights as a worker, contact an Iowa workers compensation lawyer of LaMarca Law Group, P.C., at (515) 705-0233 to learn more about how we can help you.
Light Duty and the Law
Your doctor will decide whether you need to return to work on light duty or not. If he or she does believe you need certain restrictions, be sure to get them in writing. Employers are sometimes distrustful of workers who claim to need less work or easier tasks for awhile.
If your employer has any light work that you could perform, he or she is legally required to offer you this work. This may mean taking on fewer tasks at your regular job, or performing a different job altogether until you recover. Sadly, if your employer does not have any such work for you to do, it is generally within his or her rights to terminate your job.
While you are on restricted work, you may be eligible to continue receiving workers’ compensation benefits. These will help make up the difference between your previous salary and the one you receive while performing restricted tasks.
If you have any questions about your rights or responsibilities under the law, our Iowa workers’ comp light-duty lawyers are here to help.
Contact Us
The Iowa workers’ compensation lawyers of LaMarca Law Group, P.C. are committed to helping injured workers receive the benefits they need. Contact our offices today at (515) 705-0233.