If you got hurt at work or hurt yourself outside of work but will be continuing to work while you’re healing and recovering from your injury, there are a few things that you should know about this process to ensure that you protect yourself. Because while you likely can’t afford to not work even though you’re hurt, you also don’t want to put yourself at risk for other things either.
To help you get through this tough time, here are three tips for dealing with an injury while continuing to work.
Keep Communication Open With Your Employer
For those who got hurt at work, your boss likely already knows all about what happened and what medical steps you’re needing to take in order for your body to get back to how it was before your injury. So as you continue to work and heal, make sure you’re keeping your boss apprised of what you’re needing and when you can expect to be back to work in your full capacity.
If you got hurt outside of work and will continue to be showing up to work, you’ll want to have a conversation with your boss about what limitations you might have now and how you may need to scale back a bit. By being open with your employer about these things, you can hopefully be able to keep working while you also work to heal.
Consult Your Medical And Support Staff
Because of your injury, you likely have been seen by a doctor and other support staff as you seek to get well. So while you might feel like you’re wanting to get back to work as soon as possible, make sure you consult your medical and support staff before you jump right back into things.
Your doctor will likely be able to give you guidance on what you can safely do at each point in the healing process, which can help you know how much work you should expect to do. Additionally, if you were in contact with a workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago, IL, or whatever city you live in, they can also help you through the process of returning to work after a workplace injury.
Seek Out The Accommodations You Need
Once you’ve spoken to your boss about going back to work, you’ll want to discuss with them what accommodations you might be needing in order to do your job effectively.
In some cases, you might need to work reduced hours as your body continues to heal. You may also need certain tools or aids for the injured parts of your body so that you can rest them while still working as normally as you can.
If you’re trying to keep working while you’re also healing from an injury, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish both of these goals simultaneously.