You’ve been hurt on the job. You have suffered a shoulder injury and aren’t able to lift more than 10 pounds, which was a requirement for your job. Your employer takes note of your new job restriction, and offers you an office job where you won’t have to lift anything. However, there is nothing for you to do in this new job – or the only work you are given is tedious and mind-numbing. You hate this new job and after repeated complaints your employer does nothing to provide you with more appropriate work. You start to wonder: are they trying to push you to quit?
Light work duty for injured Virginia workers
If you’ve been hurt on the job in Virginia but have been allowed to return to work with a “light duty” restriction, your employer may offer you a less-strenuous job so that you can continue to work. If they do this, they have to make you a “bona-fide” job offer that is suitable to the type of work you are now able to do. However, you may find this new work unpleasant, and wonder if your employer is trying to push you to quit.
It is not unusual for your employer to find a way to keep you working after you’ve been hurt. After all, they’d rather you be of use to them in some capacity rather than just pay you workers’ compensation benefits.
Be aware, however, there have been cases where employers have been accused of trying to push light-duty employees to quit by giving them boring or unfulfilling work. These employers hope that their injured employee will hate the new position so much that they don’t want to work anymore or they find new work elsewhere.
Why would your employer do this? So they can stop paying your workers’ compensation benefits!
Don’t give up if you feel you are being mistreated by your Virginia employer after a workplace injury. You have rights. You can talk to one of our Virginia workers’ compensation attorneys if you think your employer is taking advantage of you after a job-related accident.
DULANEY, LAUER & THOMAS, LLP
Warrenton Office
98 Alexandria Pike, Suite 11
Warrenton, VA 20186
Toll Free: 888.907.2631
Local: 540.349.2631
Culpeper Office
209 N. West Street
Culpeper, VA 22701
Toll Free: 800.741.1012
Local: 540.825.6046
