Clarify the duties, not just the job title
A light-duty offer may involve movements your former role did not require, or retain some of the same physical demands. Ask for a concrete description of tasks, hours, and requirements. The phrase light duty alone does not explain how much lifting or standing is involved.
Compare the offer with your restrictions
A return should be evaluated against applicable medical restrictions. The Board encourages coordination among the worker, providers, and employer. Share the offer with your provider and attorney. If an activity is unclear, ask for clarification rather than guessing what a medical instruction permits.
Track dates and earnings
Keep the return date, hours, duties, pay, and correspondence about changes. Tell your attorney if you work fewer hours, earn less, or miss work again because of symptoms. Those details help assess case status without relying only on recollections weeks later.
If symptoms increase after returning
Tell your provider and describe the activity involved. Keep messages to your supervisor and any changes in duties. The issue is not simply whether you returned, but what you can do safely and what documentation exists. Before rejecting an offer or assuming benefits have ended, seek an individual review.
Official source: NYS Workers’ Compensation Board · Return to Work
General New York information, not advice about your individual facts. Deadlines and options depend on the case. Do not wait until treatment ends to ask about important dates.
Workers’ compensation