For most people who are injured at work, they have two primary worries – not getting fired for their injury and if they qualify for worker’s compensation benefits. However, on occasion, a work-related injury can bring about a change in us. Maybe that injury was the last straw at your particular job. While you were laid up healing from it, you had a lot of time to think and came to the conclusion that it was time to move on. Perhaps after the injury, you were feeling a little more unwelcome at your place of employment due to your filing for worker’s compensation. Regardless of the circumstances, is it possible to quit your job while on worker’s compensation?
Harassment for Filing Worker’s Compensation
If you are feeling pressure or discrimination after returning to work after filing worker’s compensation, then definitely do not quit because of it. Under Minnesota law, it is illegal to discriminate against workers who were legitimately hurt at work and filed for worker’s compensation to cover it.
If you are feeling harassed for doing so, don’t just abandon your job. Instead, you should contact your worker’s compensation lawyer and discuss your options. Workplace intimidation or discrimination can include:
- Demotion
- Disciplinary actions without cause
- Other benefit denials
- Reduced hours or pay
- Various tactics of physical or mental intimidation by co-workers of management
If any of the above is happening at your workplace after your injury, it is likely management won’t be open to hearing your complaints about it. However, with the help of legal counsel, we can work as your advocate to discuss your options without leaving your current place of employment. By letting your management know that their intimidation tactics are illegal and it can open them up to legal action, often that is enough to shut the whole thing down so you can return to your normal work life without any further action required.
When is it Okay to Quit Your Job After an Injury?
When an injured worker decides to leave their job, it is not always because of harassment in the workplace. There are a lot of jobs out there, and perhaps an injury was enough to make you want to look for something else out there. However, after an injury while you are still on worker’s compensation benefits, do not quit. By quitting your job, you are giving up your rights to worker’s compensation benefits.
If you are considering looking for new employment, you should always wait until your worker’s compensation benefits have expired. However, this is only true for temporary disability benefits. These temporary benefits will cover any differences in your pay rate if you have to work fewer hours due to your injury, but typically allow you to return to work soon after the injury. However, they will only cover you for a set period of time.
For permanent disability benefits, you will continue to collect payment regardless of your employment status. This means if your temporary disability worker’s compensation benefits have expired, but you are still collecting payments for permanent disability, you are free to quit your job without any repercussions.
Seeking Legal Help
If you have been hurt at work and are considering quitting your job for any reason, then that is your choice to make. However, before doing so, you should consult with your worker’s compensation attorney to check on how it will affect your benefits. If you are just starting the worker’s compensation process in Minnesota’s St. Paul area, contact us today. Let the Law Office of Joshua Borken help represent your rights as an injured worker to get you the compensation that your injuries deserve.