If you have been injured at your job in California, you may have filed a claim with your employer to begin receiving workers’ compensation benefits. If you were approved, chances are you are receiving supplemental assistance until you can resume your position at your job. However, what happens to your job while you are injured and unable to work? Understanding what may happen can give you insight into how to handle your situation so you can protect your job security as best as you can.
When the time comes for you to return to work, your employer will probably require some type of medical clearance that your health care provider has signed. Such documentation will be an acknowledgment that you are healed and able to resume your responsibilities. If this type of clearance is not immediate based on your injury, your employer may allow you to telecommute or they may be willing to modify your job so you can comfortably and safely work your way back into your usual tasks.
According to the Workers’ Compensation Board, no law requires your employer to hold your job for you while you recover from your injury. Generally speaking, most employers to allow injured workers to resume their job upon their recovery, but this is not always the case. If you are concerned about your job’s availability, stay in constant contact with your employer. Express your desire and enthusiasm to return to work and suggest solutions for ways that you can continue to contribute right now, despite your injury.
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.