Getting hurt at work in Illinois may complicate your ability to work until you fully recover from your injuries. While it may seem sufficient enough to file a workers’ compensation claim without saying much to your employer, consistent communication can actually protect you from losing out on valuable benefits.
Knowing which information to share with your employer can expedite your effort to acquire compensatory support as quickly as possible.
Your injury
As soon as you have received adequate medical attention, inform your employer of what happened. Provide a timeline of events. Ask your coworkers if any of them witnessed your accident and can corroborate your story. According to eSafety, you should immediately report unsafe working conditions, especially if they contributed to your accident.
Timely reporting is paramount to maintain your eligibility to receive workers’ compensation benefits. By law, you have a limited period of time in which you can report a workplace injury or illness. Due to the statute of limitations, if you allow too much time to pass, your employer can legally deny your claim.
Your intentions
Throughout your recovery, you should keep your employer informed of your condition and any improvements to your health and mobility. After hearing from your health care provider what the likelihood is of you recovering completely, you can make an informed decision about whether or not you wish to return to your former work responsibilities.
Collaborate with your employer to see what needs to happen for you to transition back into your role at work. See what the possibilities of telecommuting are while you recover at home. Depending on the severity of your injuries, you may require modifications to your former responsibilities so you can work safely and effectively despite your condition. Communicating openly with your employer can help you to maintain a good relationship which can aid in your effort to return to work as soon as possible.
