One of the most important factors in any Minnesota workers’ compensation case is the nature and extent of any light duty work restrictions that have been assigned to the injured worker. If you’ve sustained an on-the-job injury in Minnesota, and your doctor has instructed you to limit or restrict your work and/or leisure activities, these limitations are referred to as work restrictions. Generally, in order to claim entitlement to Minnesota Workers’ Compensation Benefits, an injured worker must demonstrate restrictions on his or her ability to perform her normal work duties.
Your doctor may provide you with a workability report documenting your limitations, or he or she may instruct you to avoid performing specific work activities. If you have concerns about your ability to perform your normal job activities following a work injury, it is critical that you discuss these concerns with your doctor. If your doctor tells you to restrict your work activities, you need to have your doctor provide you with a note or workability form documenting your limitations. Documentation of your work limitations as the result of a work injury must be provided to your employer. Your employer may offer you a light duty job to accommodate your restrictions.

When you sustain an injury during the course and scope of your employment and file a claim for workers’ compensation, both you and your employer have some choices. We can assure you that your employer will make decisions in their best interest so it’s important for you to understand the process and know your rights, particularly when it comes to accepting light duty work.

The first step is to seek medical treatment after which your medical professional (doctor, physicians assistant, psychologist, chiropractor, etc.) will generally issue you restrictions. First and foremost, we at Meuser Law Office P.A. advise our clients to get these restrictions from your treating physician in writing. Documentation is key to successfully navigating the workers’ compensation system.The restrictions can be more general or it can describe exactly what tasks you can and cannot perform in your current physical capacity. Often times these restrictions prevent injured workers from performing the vast majority of their prior job functions.

At Meuser Law Office, P.A., we understand that for firefighters and police officers, it’s not just a job—it’s a career, and it’s a way of life. Facing an illness or injury that may end your career is extremely difficult, and it involves making a lot of complicated decisions to protect your future, some of which can be very emotional. During this sensitive time, it’s important to have knowledge and possibly representation regarding the benefits you are due. Minnesota police officers and firefighters who are injured in the line of duty may be eligible for a variety of disability benefits, including workers’ compensation, PERA/MSRS disability, and/or health care continuation under Minn. Stat. § 299A.465.

Last week, Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel presented an eye-opening report to the Minneapolis City Counsel regarding the cost associated with the department’s workers’ compensation claims. Fruetel reported that since 2012 the cost of workers’ compensation benefits paid by the City has nearly doubled from previous years—to $2.4 million per year. According to Mark Lakosky, the president of the Minneapolis Firefighters Union Local 82, these injuries are the direct result of budget cuts. While budget cuts have decreased staffing, the volume of emergency calls has increased, resulting in fewer firefighters responding to fires and other emergency calls. This under-staffing, in turn, has put tremendous stress on the firefighters, resulting in more work-related injuries and workers’ compensation claims. By way of example, a study conducted by the Seattle Fire Department found that firefighter injuries declined by 35 percent when the department increased its staffing from three to four people.