Best Workers' Compensation Lawyers in Tacoma, WA

Suffered a Work Injury While Working a Light-Duty Job? If a worker has an L&I claim, then their employer might offer them light duty work. However, a light-duty job offer must be valid. Work injury claimants who refuse valid light duty work can no longer receive wage replacement benefits. These benefits include time loss compensation and loss of earning power benefits. There are many types of light-duty jobs. Under the workers’ compensation claim system in Washington State, there are special considerations. More specifically, a light duty job offer is valid if it meets 5 criteria: (1) The job must be with the employer of injury. (2) The employer must send the job description (sometimes called job analysis) to the attending provider and the injured worker. (3) The attending provider must approve the job. (4) The employer has to provide a written job offer to the work injury claimant. The offer needs to include a reasonable start date. (5) The employer must reinstate health care benefits at the same level as of the time of injury. One exception is when there’s a superseding agreement in place. Some work injury claimants are nervous about light duty work. I regularly encounter 2 common concerns. First, there’s a fear of performing work beyond the worker’s limitations. These limitations are set by the attending provider. Then, there’s a second concern – suffering another workplace injury while working light duty. Read more:...