Legal Question in Workers Comp in Pennsylvania

Light duty pay when you are unable to work your usual job

My friend was injured at work and restricted to light duty by a doctor on his employer's list of comp physicians. His employer placed him in a position of answering the phones at the front desk and is paying him 6.00 an hour for a 40 hour workweek even though BEFORE the injury this man earned (on his usual job) 10.00 an hour.

Can an employer put someone who was injured on the job on light-duty with paying him less money than he was making before the injury?

Thank you so much.


Asked on 5/05/00, 5:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Marvin Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.

Re: Light duty pay when you are unable to work your usual job

Under the PA comp act, your friend would be entitled to partial disability benefits, based on the reduction in his wages. If the insurance company doesn't pay this, he should consult a lawyer to put in a claim for these benefits.

(for this reason, comp carriers usually lean on the employers to make light duty work available at no loss in pay).

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Answered on 6/21/00, 9:28 am


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