Can an employee be forced to return to work before they feel ready to do so?
This is a question that disability lawyers hear on a weekly basis. Many employees are made to feel pressured to return to work before they are medically able to do so. Sometimes this can aggravate a condition and only make things worse. Other times, it isn’t possible to begin with, even if it was desired and it were to make matters worse.
Employers sometimes advise their employees that if their disability claims have been denied, they must return to work or resign. This is a false dilemma, and these are usually not the only 2 options available. In fact, an employer cannot force an employee to resign (this will be a topic for a later article which will be explored in more detail).
If your disability insurer has denied your long term disability benefits, don’t try to respond to an impossible question. Instead speak with a disability lawyer to learn about what steps you can take to protect yourself, protect your employment, and get your disability benefits.