Work-related injuries and occupational illnesses can be so severe that they prevent employees from reporting back to work immediately. Depending on how serious and incapacitating their medical conditions are, workers can take weeks, months or even years to recover.
You might think the riskiest jobs in the world would take the most time off due to work-related injuries or illnesses. But a recent study found that the occupations taking the most time off weren’t the kind most people would expect.
Based on an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the study found that merchandise displayers and window trimmers take the most time off for injury or illness. The study looked into which occupations had the highest percentage of cases where six days or more were taken off, revealing that merchandise displayers and window trimmers took the most time off with 1,420 cases in 2022. Of those cases, 1,260 (88.73%) involved six or more days off work, and 290 involved 31 days or more.
Flight attendants had the second-highest percentage of long days off due to injury or illness. Of the 9,450 cases flight attendants had in 2022, 84.6% were cases where the workers took six or more days off.
Third place went to food processing, where 3,200 cases involved taking six or more days off.
How long exactly can you take a day off for a work-related injury or illness?
In Massachusetts, as in many other states, workers’ compensation laws are in place to protect employees who are injured on the job. These laws provide various benefits, including medical treatment and compensation for lost wages.
The nature and severity of a worker’s injury or illness determines how long a worker can take time off and still receive benefits.
- Temporary total incapacity benefits: These benefits are for employees who can’t work for five or more full or partial calendar days. While this benefit continues for as long as the disability lasts, there’s a 156-week statutory limit.
- Partial incapacity benefits: These benefits are for employees who can still work despite their injuries or illness, but their condition leads to a lower earning capacity. These benefits last for up to 260 weeks.
- Permanent and total incapacity benefits: If an employee is permanently and totally unable to do any kind of work due to their work-related injury, they may be eligible for these benefits. These benefits can potentially continue for the duration of the disability, often up to retirement age.
There are specific rules and conditions that apply to each type of benefit. The actual duration of time off work for a work-related injury will depend on the medical evidence, the employee’s recovery progress, and the application of the law to the specific case. If you’re an injured worker and you have questions about your benefits, consider approaching a legal professional. A workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your rights and the benefits you have under law.
