Question

After Darren Bossley suffered a job-related injury to his left hand and couldn't perform his regular job, his employer assigned him to alternative duties, which consisted of completing coursework for an electrician's apprenticeship. Bossley claimed that he was unable to complete the hours due to severe pain; however, his treating physician released him to return to work because the physician believed that Bossley was able to perform in this alternative work arrangement. Bossley was terminated from his job for failing to complete his work hours and for not reporting to work. As a result, his employer's workers' compensation insurer refused to pay disability benefits. Were Bossley's workers' compensation claims wrongly denied?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

In this case, it is possible that Bossley's workers’ compensation claims were wrongly denied. Bossley's treating physician released him to return to work, so it could be argued that Bossley was still able to perform the duties of his job, albeit in a different capacity than before his injury. Furthermore, the fact that he was unable to complete the hours due to severe pain could be seen as a valid reason for his failure to report to work, and it could be argued that he should not be held responsible for this. Therefore, if Bossley can demonstrate that he was unable to complete the alternative duties assigned to him due to the injury, it is possible that the workers' compensation insurer should have paid him disability benefits.