Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here
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Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here

When my husband I decided to start a business, we didn't think about the legal aspects of doing so. We didn't realize that purchasing business insurance, getting building permits and making investments all required some type of legal advice. But after speaking to a close friend, who also happens to own a small business, we contacted a business attorney. Now, we have the legal smarts to make the best decisions for our business, as well as the legal representation in case something happens to our company. I hope that you find my blog helpful and informative for your own business. It's a great resource for finding the legal advice, resources and guidance you need to get your company up and running.

Need Legal Help for Your Business? Find It Here

Working When Injured: What Is Light Duty?

Ronnie Mills

When you are hurt because of a job, you are likely grateful for your employer's workers' compensation insurance. With this form of help, you can stay home long enough to heal from your injury and then be ready to return to your job. At some point, you might be asked to accept light duty work, so read on to learn about what your rights are in this situation.

Can you return to your job?

If your injury has improved enough, then you will be cleared by the workers' comp doctor to return to your job. There is, however, an interim option for those who are still too hurt to work at their previous job. Light duty allows you to work at a different level or position for a temporary period of time while your injury continues to get better. Once your injury reaches an appropriate level of healing, you will be able to return to your previous position.

Do you have a choice about accepting the job?

The light duty job that is offered to you must be appropriate for you, and several factors are taken into account when the offer is made. While you are under no obligation to accept a job that is not suitable, you must agree to work light duty or risk losing your workers' comp benefits.

What about your workers' comp pay?

When you cannot work at all, the workers' comp insurance helps by providing you with a certain portion of your usual salary. For example, if you normally earn $500.00 a week, your workers' comp pay wage will be a percentage of that amount. In some cases, the percentage is about 66.6%, which brings your wage to about $330.00.

Once you accept a light duty job you will be able to bridge the gap in pay. You will continue to receive your workers' comp wage loss benefit in addition to the pay for the light duty job. There are caps on your total amount of compensation that prevent you from earning more than you previously earned before you were injured.

What type of job might you be offered?

The jobs that might be offered vary greatly and are based on several factors. In some cases, the job may not necessarily be related in any way to your previous job. Some of those factors are:

1. Your level of disability at the present time.

2. The openings available through your employer that are considered suitable.

3. Your skills, abilities and education level.

This situation can be a great way to improve your financial situation while you continue to heal from your injuries. If the job is completely unsuitable, you must seek help from workers comp attorneys, however. Take action before you lose both your job and your workers' comp benefits.


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