It is an unfortunate fact that injuries in the workplace are a common occurrence. No matter if you work in a warehouse, office or medical facility, you are not immune to the risk of such danger. If you have become a victim of unsafe work conditions, your employer may suggest that you take a light-duty assignment while recuperating from your injuries. There are a few things you should know about this, though.
A light-duty assignment typically means that a recovering employee will continue working in supposedly less strenuous conditions. According to Monster, employers do not have to offer light-duty, but there are a few things you should know about it nonetheless.
It may still compromise recovery
The objective of a light-duty assignment is, ostensibly, to facilitate the recovery of an injured employee. If you suffered an injury in a warehouse, for example, your employer may assign you to work in an office until you are able to resume your regular work duties. The problem, however, is that a light-duty assignment can still slow your recovery and even inhibit it.
It can affect the income you earn
It is also common for light-duty assignments to affect the income you earn. If your original position included full-time hours, a light-duty position may reduce your work to half of that. This can make it difficult to make ends meet -- and this is especially true if you are dealing with medical bills from the injury, too.
It can jeopardize a workers' comp claim
Many employers who offer light-duty assignments to injured workers fail to mention that it can directly impact a workers' compensation claim. The longer you are away from work, the more expensive workers' compensation is for your employer, so it is in their best financial interest to keep you working -- even if it may compromise your recovery.
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