Worker’s Comp

When injured at work and you go on workers comp, can you change jobs/employers and workers comp continues? Or if you take a job with a different company while on workers comp, the worker’s comp ends?

Weekender wrote:

When injured at work and you go on workers comp, can you change jobs/employers and workers comp continues? Or if you take a job with a different company while on workers comp, the worker’s comp ends?

I’m not sure. Workers comp is paying you due to injury and paying you yo do light duty and or sit at home. So it’s hard to say. I’ve luckily only had 1 claim when a wire went through my eye in a job 10 years ago.

Not sure about changing employers. I recently retired while undergoing rehabilitation for a work-related injury and they are continuing to cover any medical expenses until I’m released by my doctor. Have to take a return-to-work document into my previous employer after every visit even though I’m retired.

Yeah at this point I’m on light duty, but working 8hrs per day so for the most part I haven’t been paid by workers comp for a month. However I have PT, other doctor appointments and another minor surgery coming up still.

My other concern is, once healthy, if down the road I have problems, will workers comp continue to cover me if I’m at another job.

I’d like to continue with my current job, but it’s gotten so bad, it’s not worth it. It’s time to leave.

i’m not absolutely 100% sure, but like bearcat stated work comp is paying you because your injured to the point of not being able to do the essential functions of your current job.

i’d be pretty certain you change jobs, the employer you are claiming work comp will shut down your payments. you would also probably be dealing with different work comp carriers.

just thinking out loud here, but if your currently getting work comp benefits, how is it someone else will hire you??? i see a huge red flag.if you go back to work and reinjure or more seriously get hurt…….that companies ins gets jacked up.

some but not all employers will bring you back at times just to get you off work comp to do light duty work within your restrictions!!!!

glenn57 wrote:

i’m not absolutely 100% sure, but like bearcat stated work comp is paying you because your injured to the point of not being able to do the essential functions of your current job.

i’d be pretty certain you change jobs, the employer you are claiming work comp will shut down your payments. you would also probably be dealing with different work comp carriers.

just thinking out loud here, but if your currently getting work comp benefits, how is it someone else will hire you??? i see a huge red flag.if you go back to work and reinjure or more seriously get hurt…….that companies ins gets jacked up.

some but not all employers will bring you back at times just to get you off work comp to do light duty work within your restrictions!!!!

Correct. At this point I’m on light duty getting in 8hrs a day, but not able to return to full duty yet per doctors instructions.

I will stay at my current job until I’m back to full duty, no restrictions. But at that point I will likely leave.

Weekender wrote:

Yeah at this point I’m on light duty, but working 8hrs power day so for the most part I haven’t been paid by workers comp for a month. However I have a PT, other doctor appointments and all another minor surgery coming up still.

My other concern is, once healthy, if down the road I have problems, will workers comp continue to cover me if I’m at another job.

I’d like to continue with my current job, but it’s gotten so bad, it’s not worth it. It’s time to leave.

that depends………..as long as your with your current employer yes work comp will cover your PT and surgery.

when your healthy…you will probably be given the all clear to return to full status. and this is where the that depends comes in…….IF a doctor or i’d bet its going to be more then one says its a reinjury of an old injury, well then the 2 different work comp carriers will slug it out who is responsible to pay the claim. then you need a work comp attorney.

i dont clain to be a work comp expert, but i’ve learned and dealt with all kinds of scenerios in my years as a union rep!!!!! with that being said..maybe hire a work comp attorney…….jhe’s the one you should really ask!!!!!!

IF you get a payout for a permanent disabilty that all changes.

Thanks Glenn that’s good info. I broke my ankle at work 4 months ago and although the healing and recovery is not going well, I’m certain at some point I’ll be back to normal.

And at that point I’ll likely take a different job. My current employer isn’t hiring people, forcing everyone to work 6 days per week, and has canceled all vacation requests for the entire year for everybody.

So as soon as I’m back to 100%, I’m leaving. The job isn’t worth it.

Weekender wrote:

Thanks Glenn that’s good info. I broke my ankle at work 4 months ago and although the healing and recovery is not going well, I’m certain at some point I’ll be back to normal.

And at that point I’ll likely take a different job. My current employer isn’t hiring people, forcing everyone to work 6 days per week, and has canceled all vacation requests for the entire year for everybody.

So as soon as I’m back to 100%, I’m leaving. The job isn’t worth it.

me thinks that place needs a good Union!!!!!!!!

glenn57 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Weekender wrote:</div>
Thanks Glenn that’s good info. I broke my ankle at work 4 months ago and although the healing and recovery is not going well, I’m certain at some point I’ll be back to normal.

And at that point I’ll likely take a different job. My current employer isn’t hiring people, forcing everyone to work 6 days per week, and has canceled all vacation requests for the entire year for everybody.

So as soon as I’m back to 100%, I’m leaving. The job isn’t worth it.

me thinks that place needs a good Union!!!!!!!!

Oh we have a union! Well, our steward fights for himself and nobody else. Heck…2 years ago he accused me of faking my back pain. THREE DAYS prior to my double herniated disc surgery!

So, yeah, a union exists….but then it doesn’t either.

Besides….our union guy sides with management every single time.

UGH!!!!!!!! that bites!!!!!! sorry to hear….. not the way it should work!!!!!

When your cleared for work by the Doctor the WC will want you to sign a disability waiver or all clear. be careful of what you sign.

catmando wrote:

When your cleared for work by the Doctor the WC will want you to sign a disability waiver or all clear. be careful of what you sign.

Oh! Didn’t know that one. Thanks for the heads up!

glenn57 wrote:

UGH!!!!!!!! that bites!!!!!! sorry to hear….. not the way it should work!!!!!

No it’s not. We pay a lot $$ in dues to have the union protect us. And the dude we have thinks he’s royalty. He once said “I’m up here (hand above his head) and the rest of you are down here (hand below his waist)”

I’ll be out of there soon enough, or I’ll be fired. My Canada vacation request, which was paid for in 2019, was denied. But I’m going irregardless.

catmando wrote:

When your cleared for work by the Doctor the WC will want you to sign a disability waiver or all clear. be careful of what you sign.

X2. Know exactly what you are signing. If you sign off on something and have issues with the same injury down the road you could be screwed and not covered

Weekender wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>

Oh we have a union! Well, our steward fights for himself and nobody else. Heck…2 years ago he accused me of faking my back pain. THREE DAYS prior to my double herniated disc surgery!

So, yeah, a union exists….but then it doesn’t either.

Besides….our union guy sides with management every single time.

Vote somebody else in for a steward then

i’d be calling the International!!!!!!!

We’re waiting for the next voting period.

Do you have a QRC yet? You should be assigned a QRC by the State of MN after you’ve been on WC for 90 days I believe. The QRC is the intermediary between you and the WC insurance. They are supposed to be impartial. They should be able to answer your questions completely.
If you leave your job the WC will end, unless you are directed to do that by a doctor and the insurance company agrees (after you visit their doctor).
In your situation, I highly recommend getting a good attorney. WC attorneys only get paid if you get a settlement, and it’s capped at 20% of your settlement by law. And if you intend to leave your job anyway, you’re going to need to know how and when you can, while holding your current company accountable for your injury.
Everything will proceed slowly, all decisions and choices will have to be approved by WC Insurance, prepare to be frustrated.

mojo wrote:

Do you have a QRC yet? You should be assigned a QRC by the State of MN after you’ve been on WC for 90 days I believe. The QRC is the intermediary between you and the WC insurance. They are supposed to be impartial. They should be able to answer your questions completely.
If you leave your job the WC will end, unless you are directed to do that by a doctor and the insurance company agrees (after you visit their doctor).
In your situation, I highly recommend getting a good attorney. WC attorneys only get paid if you get a settlement, and it’s capped at 20% of your settlement by law. And if you intend to leave your job anyway, you’re going to need to know how and when you can, while holding your current company accountable for your injury.
Everything will proceed slowly, all decisions and choices will have to be approved by WC Insurance, prepare to be frustrated.

BINGO!!!!!!

You need to a WC attorney before you are released to go back to work. You also may need an attorney to get some sort of settlement for your injury. JMO

MX1825 wrote:

You need to a WC attorney before you are released to go back to work. You also may need an attorney to get some sort of settlement for your injury. JMO

Yep!!!! And when consulting an attorney, they need to be in the same state as your claim. WC laws vary between states

Honestly, at this point I’m not looking for a settlement unless I can’t recover fully from my broken ankle. But according to my doctor I should be able to recover fully. The bone is healed 100% now, it’s some tendons that are giving me issues.

Sounds like I should wait until I’m fully recovered before taking a job elsewhere though.

Ridiculous question but… can you be fired while on workers comp? My boss has canceled all vacations for everybody for the entire year. However I have a Canada trip that’s essentially paid for since 2019 (border closed 2020 & most of 2021 of course). I’m going no matter what my boss says. I’m not losing out on all that money and that trip.

Yes unions are doing a great job we don’t have enough people and they keep asking us to work more hours with not enough pay increase, I’m ready to stop paying my dues!!

Weekender wrote:

Honestly, at this point I’m not looking for a settlement unless I can’t recover fully from my broken ankle. But according to my doctor I should be able to recover fully. The bone is healed 100% now, it’s some tendons that are giving me issues.

Sounds like I should wait until I’m fully recovered before taking a job elsewhere though.

Ridiculous question but… can you be fired while on workers comp? My boss has canceled all vacations for everybody for the entire year. However I have a Canada trip that’s essentially paid for since 2019 (border closed 2020 & most of 2021 of course). I’m going no matter what my boss says. I’m not losing out on all that money and that trip.

thats a loaded question…..depends on how your agreement reads. do you have progressive discipline???? do you have rules or grounds for immediate termination???

another question….how does your vacation language read??? do you get paid out any unused vacation…..do you lose it if you dont use it!!!!! thinkin the union and management best have some serious disccusions!!!!

supercat wrote:

Yes unions are doing a great job we don’t have enough people and they keep asking us to work more hours with not enough pay increase, I’m ready to stop paying my dues!!

i see your in wisconsin..have at it..wisconsin is right to work. but from my experience the non dues paying people are first in line for all the goodies !!!!!!!

i would assume you get OT at least after 40 hours……….and i’m not sure what the union has to do with hiring or not hiring more employees. and with the extra hours, i’d rather have people complaining about that then looking at a layoff list!!!!

Glenn –

Yes, we have progressive discipline and I have none in my file. There are grounds for immediate termination, but it’s got to be awfully serious such as breaking serious laws (federal offenses mostly).

Our vacation requests are to be approved or disapproved in a “timely manner”. My leave request was submitted early last fall and I haven’t officially received any signed approval or denial…yet. But everybody who has submitted leave requests this year are immediately receiving denials.

Mojo – what is a QRC?

Weekender wrote:

Glenn –

Yes, we have progressive discipline and I have none in my file. There are grounds for immediate termination, but it’s got to be awfully serious such as breaking serious laws (federal offenses mostly).

Our vacation requests are to be approved or disapproved in a “timely manner”. My leave request was submitted early last fall and I haven’t officially received any signed approval or denial…yet. But everybody who has submitted leave requests this year are immediately receiving denials.

by the way you wrote that i’m going to assume you have what they call a period of whaat we called PREAUTHORIZED vacation requests!!! your union best take a close look at how that language is written and fight that big time. most companies do reserve the right to limit vacations to a certain amount of people being gone at any given time, but not a blanket denail!!!

i’m not Mojo……but a QRC is a go between between your medical people, the company and the work comp carrier. i beleive there title is no longer QRC but something else, but still serve the same purpose. like Mojo said there supposed to be nuetral…..but be wary.i’ve heard and seen some not so nuetral!!!

Thanks Glenn. I have a nurse that I’m in communication with. One that is a go-between for me, the doctor and my employer. It’s one hired by the department of labor I believe (I’m a federal employee).

The nurse is the only go-between I have at this point.