If you have been injured in a work-related accident, you may have a long road to recovery ahead of you. And in many cases, the road to recovery is not always entirely smooth and free of hassles. While you are entitled to claim from your employers’ workers’ comp cover policy to receive compensation that will cover your medical bills, lost income, and even pain and suffering, among other damages, you may be concerned about returning to work.
Professionals who have been injured on the job face concerns about whether they can continue to perform in their career as they could before the injury. Other concerns may revolve around fair treatment from the employer, insufficient injury leave, potential loss of pay, and others. However, you have rights after experiencing a work-related injury, and a Skyview Law personal injury lawyer can help you uncover all the details. With that said, here’s what you need to know when returning to work.
When To Return To Work
More often than not, your healthcare provider will advise when you can safely return to work. However, it would be best if you made the effort of keeping your employer up to date and informed regarding your recovery progress. As soon as your doctor has given you the green light to return to work, it is best to inform your employer immediately.
In cases where an employer is not willing to provide adequate leave time to allow recovery, it is best to deal with your employer through your injury attorney. You may say the wrong thing, and this could put your career on the line. So instead, let your lawyer handle your leave. If you are working under an employment contract, your available sick leave, family emergency leave, and vacation leave can all be taken into account when granting leave for your recovery.
Dealing With Unfair Treatment
Your employer is required by law to treat you fairly, and after experiencing an accident that is the result of health and safety negligence, things may get a bit tricky. However, there are labor laws that define how an employer may and may not treat you. If you feel you are being mistreated, it is best to consult your injury lawyer to discuss further legal action against your employer. Moreover, if you are not treated fairly after returning to work, there is no better time than now to seek a new employer as things are unlikely to improve.
Feeling Restricted By Your Injury After Recovery
If the specifics of your injury have left you unable to perform at your job the way you once could, you should consult your employer about light-duty jobs that you could do until you have fully recovered. However, your employer is not required by law to agree, so your approach is essential. On the other hand, if you cannot perform your job role long-term, you should consider seeking alternative employment. Your compensation payout should cover your loss of income and inability to continue working for at least a few months.
Recovering from an injury and returning to work can be challenging. However, with the right injury lawyer, you can obtain fair compensation that will allow you to get your life back, even if you can’t perform your job role indefinitely.