Q: We had an employee strain his back at work. The incident occurred in April, 2012. After going to an urgent care facility, he was put on restricted work
duty for one week, and physical therapy for three weeks. However, the employee
did not show up for any follow up appointments or physical therapy treatments. What is the minimum amount of restricted work days I have to
record?
A: You must record the amount of time that the doctor
recommended. The employee will need to see the doctor at the end of the
recommended time period to see of the employee can return to full duty. You'll need to suggest to the employee that he goes back to the doctor to confirm he is fit for regular duty, if not, there is a possibility that the workers comp and insurance can deny the employees claim.
