When you’re injured on the job, the road to recovery can be long and uncertain. One of the most confusing issues injured workers face is whether they have to accept light-duty work offered by their employer. This question isn’t just about physical capacity—it also impacts your workers’ compensation benefits, job security, and long-term financial future.
As experienced workers’ compensation lawyers in Florida, we understand how overwhelming it is to navigate this system while dealing with pain, doctor appointments, and pressure from your employer. This blog will walk you through what light-duty work means, your legal rights, and how to protect your health and your claim.
What Is Light Duty Work?
Light-duty work refers to modified job tasks assigned to an injured employee that accommodate their physical restrictions after a workplace injury. These jobs may involve:
- Reduced lifting or movement
- Shortened hours or modified schedules
- Clerical or sedentary duties
- Assignments outside your usual job description
The goal of light duty is to keep you working within your medical limitations while you recover. However, not all light-duty offers are created equal—or lawful.
Can Your Employer Offer Light Duty?
Yes. Under Florida law, your employer is allowed to offer you light duty if your treating physician releases you for work with restrictions. However, just because an employer can provide light duty does not mean you are required to accept every offer.
According to Florida Statutes § 440.15, if you’re medically cleared for light duty and your employer provides a job that meets those restrictions, refusing the work can result in termination of your wage replacement benefits.
That’s why it’s so important to consult with a Florida work injury attorney before making any decisions.
What If the Light Duty Job Is Unreasonable?
Employers sometimes offer jobs that appear to be within your restrictions but are not realistic or fair. Some common problems include:
- Tasks that aggravate your injury
- Jobs designed to punish or humiliate you
- Positions that don’t exist or serve no purpose
- Changes to location, hours, or pay that disrupt your life
If you’re offered a position that seems retaliatory or impractical, don’t ignore it—but don’t accept it blindly either. Contact a workers’ comp lawyer in Florida to help evaluate whether the offer is lawful and medically appropriate.
Do You Have to Accept Light Duty Work?
Short answer: it depends. If the light-duty position is:
- Within your doctor’s medical restrictions
- Suitable and consistent with your previous employment
- Offered in good faith by your employer
Then yes, you are generally required to accept it—or risk losing wage benefits.
However, if the position:
- Violates your medical restrictions
- Is unsafe or harmful to your recovery
- Involves unreasonable conditions or retaliation
Then no, you may have valid grounds to refuse it without losing your benefits—but only if you take the proper legal steps.
What Happens If You Refuse Light Duty Work?
Refusing light duty can trigger serious consequences, including:
- Suspension or termination of your Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits
- Accusations that you are non-compliant
- Increased scrutiny or retaliation from your employer or insurer
In some cases, your employer may even try to terminate you for cause, which can weaken your workers’ compensation case.
Always consult a Florida work injury attorney before refusing any light-duty assignment. We can help you document why the job is not appropriate and protect your benefits.
What If You Try Light Duty and Can’t Do It?
You have the right to try a light-duty job and later report if you are physically unable to continue. For example:
- You return to work and experience increased pain
- You discover the job duties exceed what the doctor allowed
- Your condition worsens as a result of the new tasks
In this case, return to your authorized treating physician immediately and request updated medical restrictions. If your doctor supports your claim, you can be pulled off work and continue receiving benefits.
We often help clients gather evidence, secure new evaluations, and challenge unfair assumptions made by employers or insurance carriers.
Does Light Duty Affect Your Pay?
Yes. Light-duty jobs are often lower-paying than your regular position. Fortunately, Florida’s workers’ compensation laws account for this through Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits, which supplement your reduced income.
Under Florida law, you may be eligible for TPD benefits if:
- You’re working light duty
- You earn less than 80% of your pre-injury wages
- You’re following medical instructions
Your workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida can help calculate the correct TPD benefit and make sure you’re receiving what you’re owed.
What If No Light Duty Is Available?
If your employer cannot or will not provide a suitable light-duty position, then you are generally entitled to continue receiving Temporary Total Disability (TTD) or Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits, depending on your situation.
Keep in mind:
- Your eligibility depends on the doctor’s recommendations
- The burden is on the employer to offer appropriate work
- You should never be pressured into a position that doesn’t exist
If your employer claims you refused work when none was offered, we can step in to challenge that claim and protect your benefits.
Do You Have to Return to a Different Employer?
No. Florida workers’ compensation laws do not require you to search for or accept light duty work from a new employer while you are still under your current employer’s care and still actively healing.
However, if your employer terminates you while on light duty or cannot provide it, you may need to begin a good-faith job search to continue receiving partial disability benefits. This process involves:
- Applying for jobs within your restrictions
- Keeping records of applications and interviews
- Cooperating with vocational rehab programs, if applicable
A workers’ comp lawyer in Florida can help you maintain compliance so you don’t jeopardize your case.
How to Protect Yourself
Navigating light-duty issues can feel like walking a tightrope. Here’s how to protect your physical health, financial stability, and legal rights:
- Get detailed medical documentation of your restrictions
- Review any light-duty offers with your attorney
- Communicate clearly and in writing with your employer
- Report changes in condition to your treating physician immediately
- Keep records of any job assignments, hours worked, and pay stubs
Above all, don’t try to manage this on your own. A Florida work injury attorney from our firm can help guide you through every step.
Real Case Example from Our Office
A client came to us after being offered a light-duty position that involved long hours at a desk with no breaks, despite being told by their physician to take frequent standing intervals. The employer refused to accommodate these breaks and claimed the employee “was not trying hard enough.” After we intervened, had the client re-evaluated by their physician, and presented evidence of non-compliance with restrictions, we successfully reinstated the client’s wage benefits and secured a settlement that accounted for the employer’s failure to act in good faith.
These situations are more common than you think—and they are precisely why you need a strong advocate on your side.
Why Choose Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A.
At Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A., we fight for Florida workers injured on the job. Our team understands the pressure, confusion, and intimidation tactics you may be facing—especially when it comes to light-duty work and protecting your income.
We bring decades of combined experience to every case and have helped countless injured workers.
- Evaluate unfair light duty offers
- Push back against employer retaliation
- Maximize their workers’ comp benefits
- Navigate disputes with insurers and employers
You don’t have to accept light-duty work alone, and you don’t have to guess what’s best for your future. Let our workers’ comp lawyers in Florida help you take back control.
Frequently Asked Questions About Light Duty Work in Florida
Do I have to accept any light-duty job my employer offers?
No. You are only required to accept a light-duty job if it falls within your medical restrictions, is offered in good faith, and is reasonably suitable. If it does not meet these standards, you may have valid legal grounds to decline it. Always consult a workers’ compensation lawyer in Florida before making this decision.
What happens if I refuse a light-duty assignment?
If you refuse a valid light-duty job offer, your employer may suspend your wage benefits, and it could jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim. However, if the offer is unsafe or violates your restrictions, an attorney can help you document your refusal properly and protect your benefits.
Can I be forced to do work I’ve never done before as part of light duty?
Yes, but only if the duties are within your restrictions and reasonably aligned with your skills or experience in a previous role. Employers cannot offer menial or punitive tasks to force you back to work. If the job seems retaliatory or degrading, consult with a Florida work injury attorney immediately.
What if my employer has no light duty available?
If no suitable light-duty position exists, you should continue to receive wage replacement benefits (either Temporary Total Disability or Temporary Partial Disability), depending on your condition and medical restrictions. You may need to document this with your doctor and workers’ comp insurer.
Can I receive a lower pay rate for light-duty work?
Yes. Light-duty positions may pay less than your regular job. If that happens, you may qualify for Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits to make up part of the difference. A workers’ comp lawyer in Florida can help calculate what you’re owed.
Can I be fired while on light duty?
While technically legal in some cases, firing an injured worker who is on approved light duty can raise red flags. If you suspect retaliation or wrongful termination, contact a lawyer immediately. You still may be eligible for benefits even if you are let go.
Protect Your Rights
If you’re facing pressure to return to light duty after a work injury, stop and ask the right questions:
- Does this job truly match your medical restrictions?
- Are you being treated fairly?
- Are your benefits being threatened if you say no?
We can help you get those answers and fight back when necessary.