Workers Comp Question
Dgross
21 Posts
In November, 2004, an employee filed an incident report claiming a lower back injury. Since that time she has seen two physicians (one specialist) and has been on restricted duty since the incident (and we have offered modified duty to accomodate). However, the Specialist that has been treating her is now saying "She has essentially reached a platueu level in her improvement. Although I do not have any formal restrictions from any work-related injury, it would be advisable for her to minimize repetitive twisting and bending of her lower back and not lift more than 30 pounds, primarily secondary to a pre-existing condition." Basically, those are the same restrictions he had imposed during his treatment for the work-related injury.
Now our WC carrier & the Specialist are saying her condition is no longer work-related and they are done! We now have to decide whether she should be working. When I pressured the Specialist, through his nurse, he said he did not believe she could do the job.
What do we do now? Do we terminate? Any suggestions?
Now our WC carrier & the Specialist are saying her condition is no longer work-related and they are done! We now have to decide whether she should be working. When I pressured the Specialist, through his nurse, he said he did not believe she could do the job.
What do we do now? Do we terminate? Any suggestions?
Comments
We move forward with a new employee search and let the chips fall where they may.
PORK
The conclusion of your carrier that 'We are done' is an odd one, if that's all they had to offer in the way of counsel. You are paying those people to do more than that!!
So, it's time to decide if you want the liability of carrying this employee, perhaps anticipating future WC events, or parting ways, and cutting your losses.