You’ve been injured on the job, you’re out of work, and now you’re beginning to worry about your next paycheck. Did you know that when an employee becomes injured on the job, the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) encourages employers to offer a light-duty position?
Has your employer offered a light-duty position to help accommodate the fact that you’ve been hurt at work? As with every step of the workers’ comp process, make sure you handle this offer appropriately. As the injured worker, know that you are usually required to accept the light-duty position. If you don’t, you could put your workman’s comp benefits at risk.
It’s not always a cut and dry situation, though. What if your employer is unable to accommodate the restrictions placed on you because of your injury?
If you find yourself out of work—without the option of light duty employment—here is what you need to know:
- If your workers’ comp claim is accepted and benefits are being paid, chances are strong that you will continue to receive your benefits with light-duty employment.
- If you claim is d
enied or benefits are not being paid, you may be faced with finding other employment—even though you are still technically employed by your current employer. - To help bolster your disability claim, conduct a reasonable job search for positions that fall within your restrictions.
- Contact a workers’ comp attorney to help navigate you through this process and to ensure your future right to compensation is not hindered.
As always, the knowledgeable team at Oxner + Permar are here to support you through any and all phases of the workers’ compensation process. Don’t hesitate to call for guidance. We will place you with a workers’ comp expert who knows exactly how to fight for you and make wrongs, right.
