Many workplace injuries can be quickly recovered from. However, there are some cases that may cause long-lasting disability. Workers in this situation may feel it is best to quit their current occupation and seek new employment. This could cause issues if the employee quits too soon or even at all.
Florida allows employers to offer their employees “light duty” work while they are recovering from an injury. If the injury merits permanent reassignment, employers may permanently assign employees to light duty.
Injury payments
A workers’ comp. case can be drawn out over weeks, months, or, in some rare cases, years. Depending on the employee’s recovery, a worker may be declared at maximum medical improvement by their physician and allowed back into the regular workforce either with restrictions or as a regular worker.
Some injuries may necessitate permanent reassignment and/or weekly payments. If an employee quits their job before the workers’ comp. case has been resolved, their employer may contend that the worker had found a job fit to their physical restrictions and opt out of paying further benefits. Likewise, if an employee leaves a job too soon, the employer may claim they were just able to arrange a position fit to the employees’ physical restrictions and cease weekly payments.
Employers may make claims that are untrue to get out of paying their employees benefits. Dropped claims may be contested if the employee feels unjustly treated.
Seeking new work
Being a worker in these circumstances can be frustrating. Caution is advisable if ever an employee wants to quit their job or otherwise find new occupation after a workplace injury. Quitting without a job lined up or before a settlement is finished can potentially lead to loss of benefits and financial struggles while searching for a new job.