Getting hurt at work does not always mean you have to stop working. You may feel able to keep doing your job, even while dealing with pain or recovering from an injury, and you may wonder whether staying on the job prevents you from seeking workers’ compensation.
Here is what you need to know about how continuing to work after your injury may affect your claim.
Working within your physical capacity does not jeopardize your claim
You can continue working after an injury when your duties stay within what your condition allows. For example, if you hurt your back but your doctor allows you to keep working without heavy lifting, you may continue performing tasks that fit those limits while pursuing your claim.
Keep in mind that workers’ compensation claims and wage-replacement benefits serve different purposes. Continuing to earn your regular wages could affect whether you qualify for temporary total disability benefits, even though you still have a claim related to the injury. Under Ohio law, temporary total disability payments generally stop when you return to work or when suitable work within your physical capabilities becomes available.
Exceeding your physical restrictions can complicate your claim
Going beyond your medical restrictions can create questions about what happened to your condition and whether you followed the limits set for your recovery. Suppose your doctor tells you to avoid lifting heavy items, but you decide to lift one anyway because you feel better that day. Even if you meant to help, that choice could complicate your claim if it leads to additional pain or injury.
Your restrictions should guide what you do at work, even when you feel capable of doing more.
Your employer’s decisions can also affect your claim
Your employer may make reasonable efforts to keep you working safely, but those decisions do not always reflect your current medical needs. For example, your employer may believe you can resume certain duties before receiving updated instructions from your treating provider. Your actual work limits should come from the medical guidance supporting your recovery.
Even when your employer has adjusted your duties and taken available precautions, another accident or worsening of your condition can still occur. Those circumstances do not automatically determine whether your injury qualifies for workers’ compensation.
Let your medical restrictions set the limits
Continuing to work does not automatically prevent a workers’ comp claim, but the work you perform should match your physical capacity and medical restrictions. If your duties change or your condition worsens, consider discussing the situation with your treating provider and an attorney who can review your claim and work records with you.