How Long Can an Employer Keep You on Light Duty

[roscoboy]

My workers compensation claim was made in the State of: Iowa.From nine months on light duty but not in the former workplace, they found for me other location were to perform light duty .How long time they can keep me here, it is there any limitation in workcomp law about this? Thank you.

[tony]

My workers compensation claim was made in the State of: Iowa.From nine months on light duty but not in the former workplace, they found for me other location were to perform light duty .How long time they can keep me here, it is there any limitation in workcomp law about this? Thank you.

They can keep you there for as long as they please.
There are no job protections in the worker comp act, they can do anything they want - including firing you.

Tony

[roscoboy]

wow,so they try to be so nice with my paying me to work in other place than my old place......funny.So you tell me that even with my new permanent restrictions they just spend money for me because they want to make me happy?They can't put me to work anymore in the same position because my restrictions don't allow me to do the same job.But they keep paying me on light duty in other place for the other company?What;s the catch then?

[tony]

wow,so they try to be so nice with my paying me to work in other place than my old place......funny.So you tell me that even with my new permanent restrictions they just spend money for me because they want to make me happy?They can't put me to work anymore in the same position because my restrictions don't allow me to do the same job.But they keep paying me on light duty in other place for the other company?What;s the catch then?

The catch is to break you down, they pray you'll quit.
If you quit, it would relieve them from wage loss payments.
Be patient, eventually they'll come around and offer a settlement.
You are receiving wage differential pay - right?

Wage differential (Section 8(d)(1)of Workers’ Compensation Act
If, due to the injury, the employee obtains a new job that pays less than the pre-injury
employment, he or she may be entitled to receive a wage differential award. The wage
differential award is two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the difference between the amount the employee
earns in the new job and the amount he or she would be earning in their prior employment.
For injuries that occur before September 1, 2011, benefits shall be paid for the life of the
employee. For injuries that occur on or after September 1, 2011, benefits shall be paid for five
years after the date of the award or until the employee reaches age 67, whichever is later.
See pg 20 in the below link.
http://www.iwcc.il.gov/handbook020106.pdf

Whatever you do, do not quit or give them valid reason to fire you.
If you don't have a lawyer, now's the time to retain one.

Take Care
Tony

[roscoboy]

Nope,they pay me at the same rate ,hourly, like I got paid on the old job.I don't want to quit this job,light duty job,but it is hard to understand why they keep my paying for to work for other company.And thank you for your help.