How fast you are able to return to work in Louisiana depends on the severity of your injury and the type of support you have during recovery. Relying on going back to your former job without any difficulty is most likely not a realistic expectation.
Vocational rehabilitation is one resource that can aid you in getting back to work as soon as possible.
Paying for rehabilitation
One of the most important reasons to file a claim for workers’ compensation as soon as possible is to yield the maximum benefits. Waiting until too much time has lapsed could compromise the availability of some of the benefits you could have used.
If your injury was the result of a work-related incident, workers’ compensation should cover most of your medical treatment. This includes rehabilitative services. Communicating with your employer is important so you know which rehabilitation services fall under your workers’ compensation benefits. Working with someone in-network with your employer will save you the headache of having to foot the bill for using a rehabilitation service of your own.
Benefits of participation
The benefits of participating in vocational rehabilitation can help you prepare to reenter the workforce with the new limitations resulting from your injury. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, vocational rehabilitation covers a host of services including the following:
- Helping you develop an updated resume
- Assessing your condition to identify promising career options
- Developing a customized return-to-work plan
Vocational rehabilitation can also facilitate communication with your employer to discuss the possibility of redesigning your job to allow you to continue to work. This may include identifying modifications and establishing alternative responsibilities to enable you to return to work as you continue to recover.
