Work Restictions Lawyers Minnesota

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Returning To Work With Work Restrictions

Throughout Minnesota, workers who are injured may have short or long term limitations on their ability to perform certain duties when they return to work. These accommodations or limitations on what they can do are called work restrictions.

Your medical doctor is required to fill out a work restrictions form that clearly defines your medical restrictions. In some workplaces, a work restrictions letter from your doctor may be all that is required. It is important to communicate your limitations and to provide your employer with clear guidelines on your medical work restrictions so the employer can modify your job, provide work accommodations, or find a job that is compatible with your work limitations.

Examples of work restrictions for MN workers include only sitting or standing for a specific amount of time, lifting items that are less than a specified weight amount, or even limiting walking to a certain number of hours per day or per shift. It is possible to receive permanent work restrictions from Workers Comp.

What Happens If the Employer Is Not Complying With Work Restrictions

If you have workers’ compensation return to work restrictions or a return to work with restrictions letter from your doctor and your MN employer is not following those specific conditions, contact the attorneys at Osterbauer Law Firm.

Your employer is required to make accommodations or find appropriate work. If your job is not being modified as per the accommodations listed by your doctor, or if you have been fired due to medical restrictions in Minnesota, call us at 612-334-3434 today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if an employer cannot accommodate work restrictions?

Typically, if an employer is unable to accommodate work restrictions due to the nature of the job, the employer is required to find alternative work that fits within the restrictions. If work of this type is not available through the employer, you should be provided with options to participate in training or vocational rehabilitation to train you for another job.

I have work restrictions. Can I work?

Yes, employers cannot fire a person for having work restrictions that are determined by a doctor. Employers can also not force an employee to work outside of the restrictions if they are provided by the doctor. Employees also have to return to work if a job is available that falls within their restrictions.

What happens if the employer is not complying with work restrictions?

The most important step to take if your employer refuses to comply with the work restrictions provided by your doctor is to contact an attorney at Osterbauer Law Firm. We can work with you to address these concerns or to take the necessary legal steps to ensure your safety on the job.

Does an employer have to accommodate restrictions?

Yes, provided the work restrictions are given to you by your doctor in written form, and clearly outlines what you can or cannot do. This may include a specific time in a given job, such as walking or standing, or a limitation on how much you can lift or how often you can do repetitive types of movements.

How do work restrictions affect a workers' compensation case?

Workers’ compensation cases often include work restrictions. Be sure to discuss these with an employer and ensure that all tasks you are performing are within those restrictions. In many cases, returning to work, even with restrictions, offers the ability to earn more than staying on workers’ compensation.

What do you do if your employer is violating your light duty restrictions?

Contact an attorney from Osterbauer Law Firm if your employer requires you to work outside of your light duty restrictions.

Can an employer refuse to give you light duty?

In most states, the employer is not required to provide light duty work to an injured employee. In most cases, employers will fill light duty positions with injured employees, which may mean there are no light duty positions available. The employer is not required to create a position to accommodate for work restrictions.

Can my doctor do work restrictions for me?

In the event of an injury, a doctor can provide work restrictions. The employer must use these restrictions and cannot force an employee to work outside the restrictions. If a position is not available that meets the doctor’s restrictions, the employer is not required to create one.

What does permanent work restrictions mean?

Permanent work restrictions mean that an employer has ongoing medical health issues that limit them to specific work types, duration of activities, or limits their time at work.

Can an employer deny work because of medical restrictions?

Yes, an employer can deny work if there is no work available that meets the requirements of your doctor’s medical restrictions. At the time you are off the job due to the medical restrictions and the lack of suitable work, you are entitled to temporary disability if you were a qualifying employee at the time of the injury.

Can an injured worker refuse an offer of re-employment with light duty?

An employee has the right to refuse any type of re-employment offer even with light duty accommodations. The employee may qualify for FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act), which would provide them time at home to recover. Refusing a light duty employment offer that is within a doctor’s medical restrictions can result in the loss of workers’ compensation. We recommend talking to a lawyer at Osterbauer Law Firm before making the decision to refuse the job or return to work.

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Work Restrictions Minnesota