According to statistics from the National Safety Council, 4.7 million Americans are injured at work every year, with more than a quarter of injuries occurring within the first year of employment. So, what happens if you experience an injury that causes you to be absent for a long period of time?  Many workers have to seek compensation for their injury to cover their losses while absent from work. How should you approach returning to work and can you return to the same job?

Phased Return

Your employer should support your return to work, regardless of whether they were found to be negligent in causing your injury. You may have claimed compensation from your employer which may make you feel unable to return to the same workplace. However, it is your right to return to the same role after injury or illness provided you can still carry out the same tasks. According to research, the most common workplace injuries are caused by overexertion (excessive pulling, lifting, carrying etc.) followed by slips and trips. Your employer should therefore instigate a risk assessment for your return to work to ensure there is no chance of it occurring again. You should also take time to recover and consider coming back to work in stages, coming back part-time to ease your transition.

Considering a Career Change

You may have to consider training in a different field or changing careers depending on the type of injury sustained. A Partner at this Phoenix personal injury lawyer said: “Accidents in the workplace can leave scars that go way beyond the physical, and can mean the end of a career.”

The point is that a variety of accidents including car wrecks, bicycle related injuries and dog bites, could easily be sustained at work. If your injury is in relation to your previous job e.g. working in the postal service after a dog bite, you may be reluctant or fearful of taking up the same position. You may also be unable to if your injury is physical leaving you unable to lift, handle, chop, walk or carry out other associated tasks. While you are absent from work, you may be able to study or train in another field from home in preparation for your return to the workplace.