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Following a workplace injury, you can end up with such severe limitations that you can no longer hold your former position. If a Department of Labor-approved doctor examines you and determines that you cannot return to your former position, you may need to move into another job. Vocational rehabilitation services can provide federal workers with the training you need to accept a new position. Our experienced federal workers’ comp attorneys could provide further insight.
Vocational rehabilitation services are designed to provide workers with the training they need to move into a new position following a severe injury that prevents a return to their previous occupation. These services are covered under workers’ compensation policies, which means they should be delivered at no cost to the injured party.
Vocational rehabilitation can take several forms.
Some federal workers may be transferred into a new job with duties that they can handle with the restrictions caused by their injuries. In some cases, they may receive on-the-job training to provide the information needed to fill any new responsibilities.
Job counselors can provide immense support to federal workers who need to move into a new position. They can evaluate what the worker might be good at, provide them with information about positions that might be a good fit for their needs, or offer insights into how they can best secure a position. Job counselors may also have connections that can help injured federal workers move into a new position.
If an injured worker needs training that will help them develop the skills they need to move into a new position, vocational rehabilitation may come in the form of those training programs. A training or certification program can take time to complete. However, these programs often put federal workers in the best position to accept a new job, since they can provide new skills or the certifications necessary to accept a new position.
Vocational rehabilitation for federal employees is usually part of the workers’ compensation process. Rehabilitation services may look different depending on many factors, including:
Federal workers who utilize vocational rehabilitation services will have adequate time to complete those training programs or to take full advantage of those services. Often, other workers’ compensation payments, including regular payments of two-thirds of the injured party’s income, will continue for the duration of the vocational rehabilitation services. However, once any training programs are complete, injured federal employees will typically be expected to begin job searching. That may mean that the workers’ comp payments come to an end.
Federal workers have many rights that determine the compensation and support they should expect when they are harmed on the job. However, getting those benefits can prove more difficult than expected. If you struggle to get vocational rehabilitation services after a federal workplace injury that prevents you from going back to your former job, do not try to handle the fight alone. Reach out to the personal injury lawyers at McCready Law to learn more about your rights under workers’ comp laws and how you can get the support you need.