If you get hurt at work, your main goal is to get back to your job and earn the same pay you made before. How, when, and if you return to work depends on how bad your injury is.
Here are some questions we hear a lot from injured workers.
When can I go back to work?
As soon as your doctor says you can work again, call your employer to discuss your return.
What if I can't do the same job?
You may be able to do a different job than the one you had before, depending on the needs of your employer. This lets you work and heal at the same time. Here are a few ways that can work:
Modified work is when you do the same job, but some parts are changed to fit your injury.
Alternative work is a different job your employer has for you. It's a job you can do without needing the same abilities you had before the injury.
Temporary transitional work is work that fits within your temporary work capabilities. This might include working for a short time at a nonprofit group.
What if my employer doesn't have work for me?
If your injury lasts a long time, or your employer does not have temporary modified or alternative work for you, you could get Temporary Disability benefits, depending on your injury.
What if my injury is permanent and my employer doesn't have work for me?
Sometimes modified or alternative work is not available on a permanent basis. If that happens, you may be able to get the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit. This benefit is a voucher to help you train for a different kind of job, one that fits what your body can do now.
To qualify, you must have:
- Been hurt on or after January 1, 2004
- Sustained a permanent partial disability from that injury
- Not been offered other work by your employer
To learn more, read Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits.