If you were injured on the job in the State of California, you may have already filed a claim with your employer to start receiving Workers’ Compensation (WC) benefits. If the claim was approved, you will likely receive supplemental assistance until you are able to return to your job with or without medical restrictions. However, what happens to your job while you are injured and unable to work? Understanding what can happen can give you an idea of how to handle your situation so you can protect your job security to the best of your ability.
When the time comes for you to return to work, your employer will likely require some type of medical release that your treating physician has signed. Such documentation will be an acknowledgment that you are fit and able to resume work activities. If this type of release is not immediate based on your injury, your employer may be able to modify your job so that you can comfortably and safely return to your regular duties.
According to the Workers’ Compensation Board, no law requires your employer to keep your job while you recover from your injury. Generally speaking, most employers allow injured workers to return to work after recovery, but this is not always the case. If you are concerned about your job availability, keep in constant contact with your employer. Express your desire and enthusiasm to return to work and suggest options so that you can continue to contribute to your employer despite your injury. If your return is not possible, remember that you may qualify to obtain a return to work voucher.
If you were injured at work and are in any of these cases, it is very likely that you will need legal advice or representation to obtain the benefits to which you are entitled, so it is advisable to contact a lawyer dedicated to compensation cases at worker (Workers’ Comp). This article is not intended to serve as legal advice. It is for informational purposes only.