I injured my arm on the job and went to a doctor. The doctor diagnosed me with a acute wrist pain, told me to not work for seven and prescribed pain pills which I must take each three hours. My employer called me and told me to come to work never gave me a day to rest my arm. I do not want to lose my job because of my family but I stay in constant pain.
If your doctor has told you to stay off work for 7 days due to a work-related injury then make sure your doctor’s office has faxed your employer an off-work slip. If your doctor is keeping you off work then you cannot be disciplined for this.
Harold W. Whiteman Jr.Workers' Compensation LawyerAtlanta, GA ·
Unfortunately if you want to keep the job, you need to report. In Georgia, there is nothing to keep your employer from terminating you for not returning to work, unless you are working under a union agreement or a contract of employment that will protect you. You do not even get workers comp disability in Georgia until you are out of work for 7 days. This is called the waiting period. So if you do not return and the doctor does not take you out longer than 7 days you could lose your job and receive no workers comp. I suggest telling your boss that you are taking pain pills that you must take and that that could be a real problem for your ability to perform the job. Maybe he would be willing to let you stay out. But be aware he could take that as you refusing to work. Let me stress though tht if the work is going to cause a worse injury for your arm, you have to decide if it is worth doing that to keep the job.
Hal Whiteman is absolutely correct: You must attempt to return to work if your employer offers you work within your medical restrictions, but you must also balanace this against the potential for reinjury if you do return to work and are forced to exceed your restrictions. While it sounds like your injury is very recent, the facts you have described indicate that you should hire an attorney as soon as possible in order to protect your rights both with respect to getting the best possible medical care within the confines of the workers' compensation system and also protecting your rights to workers' compensation benefits as you attempt to resolve these other issues with your employer.
Timothy M. Klob
Klob Law Firm
770-554=8100
What you do not know yet is how serious of an injury you have. If you knew the pain would only last a short time, I know you would like to keep your job but you do not know that. If your employer fires you and the doctor keeps you on restriction, the insurer will have to pay you comp benefits. You will probably need an attorney to help you sort it out.
