When you are injured on the job in Texas and you are unable to perform your regular work duties, you and your employer both suffer. We at The Law Offices of Miller & Bicklein, P.C., have often provided counsel to people who have not fully recovered yet, but are eager to return to work.
The Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation notes that a longer period out of work for an injury typically will make it harder for you to re-enter the workforce. Being unable to perform your regular duties may not mean you are completely disabled, but if you cannot step back into your job, your employer may expect you to stay at home. However, your mental and physical health are likely to be better if your time spent with a total disability is shortened. Many employers may choose to facilitate a transition for injured workers by creating a program that allows employees to do work they have been medically approved to do during their recovery.
If you must collect workers’ compensation benefits rather than your full salary, it could cause you financial hardship. A return-to-work program could provide you with the opportunity to receive your regular earnings, and at the same time, allow your employer to pay you for your work and eliminate the need for the WC insurance carrier to continue to pay benefits.
Because you will have to get medical clearance to return to work, it is important for you and your employer to communicate carefully with the doctors and rehabilitation specialists who are overseeing your health. More information about an employee’s rights after a work injury is available on our webpage.