LEGALLY REVIEWED BY:
Stephen R. Hasner
Managing Partner at Hasner Law PC
September 29, 2024

Can my boss cut my hours if I apply for workers compensation? If you’ve been injured on the job, you’re probably facing many challenges. Pain, medical bills, doctor visits, lost income, and stress often accompany workplace injuries. 

On top of all these stressors, the last thing you should have to worry about is retaliation from an employer over a workers’ compensation claim. Sometimes, an employer is justified in reducing hours after a workers’ comp claim is filed. Other times, an employer might cut hours as a way to punish a worker for filing a claim. 

Knowing the difference and how to respond can help ensure your job is protected while you heal from your injuries. 

What Does Workers’ Comp Cover?

Employers are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance. This protects them from liability and helps to ensure that employees who are injured on the job will have adequate coverage for any medical bills. 

Workers’ comp also pays a percentage of an employee’s regular income if they’re unable to work due to a workplace injury. After a serious injury, workers’ comp might even pay for long-term disability.

Why Would an Employer Not Want a Claim Filed?

Unfortunately, there are many reasons why an employer might not want an employee to file a workers’ comp claim after a workplace injury. Usually, these reasons are financial. 

Workers’ comp claims may lead to the following outcomes:

  • Higher insurance premiums 
  • Investigations by safety oversight organizations
  • Fines for improper safety protocols 

Sometimes, employers desire to avoid consequences like these, so they pressure or threaten employees to refrain from filing a claim. Some possible threats include:

  • Reducing hours 
  • Demotion 
  • Withholding a promotion
  • Reporting immigration status 
  • Termination

These are all illegal practices. Workers’ comp is a legal requirement for employers, and it exists to protect workers. Employees should not worry about adverse consequences when filing a claim.  

Why Were My Hours Cut?

After filing for worker’s compensation, an employee might notice that their regular work hours have been reduced. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s a good idea to find out why this happened. Sometimes, reduced hours are warranted or even required. 

Doctor-Ordered Reduction of Hours

After an employee files a workers’ compensation claim, part of the documentation might include orders from a doctor to reduce the number of hours worked. Working fewer hours could help the injury heal more swiftly. 

Normally, you would be made aware of any work restrictions from a physician as part of a worker’s comp claim. If your hours have been cut and you are unaware of any doctor restrictions, you should call the physician you saw for your workplace injury and verify whether the doctor set a limit on working hours. 

Typically, an order for reduced hours would result in receiving workers’ comp pay for the hours missed. 

Unwarranted Reduction of Hours

If your hours were reduced after you filed a workers’ comp claim and a doctor did not order a reduced workload, you might have cause for concern.

Every workplace and employer is different. If your workplace has a history of altering hours based on need, a reduction of hours around the time of a workers’ comp claim might be a coincidence. 

If you believe that an employer reduced your hours as retaliation for filing a workers’ comp claim, you may want to consult with an attorney. An employer who has intentionally cut back a workers’ hours because of a worker’s comp claim will be unlikely to admit this directly, as it’s an illegal action. 

It’s advisable to proceed with caution. Depending on the terms of employment, an employer might be permitted to reduce hours at will or based on company need. 

It’s smart to consult with a lawyer before jumping to conclusions, making allegations, or confronting an employer. If your rights have been violated, an attorney can help build a case and pursue the necessary legal action. 

How to Document Retaliation

If you suspect your boss cut your hours after you applied for workers’ compensation, it’s important to start gathering evidence right away. Documenting these actions could help if you take legal action against your employer. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Record Conversations

  • Document all interactions with your employer related to your workers’ compensation claim or work-related injury. Save emails, text messages, and notes from in-person conversations, especially those discussing work hours, light duty, or any changes to your work duties.
  • If your employer mentions your workers’ compensation claim while discussing reduced hours or changes in your schedule, note exactly what was said and the date.

2. Track Your Hours and Pay

  • Keep copies of pay stubs and work schedules from before and after filing your workers’ compensation claim. This will help show if your boss cut your hours right after your claim.
  • If your hours were reduced after your on-the-job injury, compare them with your previous average weekly wage. Make sure to track any reductions in weekly benefits or income benefits you’re receiving.

3. Log Changes in Treatment

  • After filing for workers’ compensation, pay attention to any changes in how your employer treats you. If your duties change or you’re reassigned to light duty work, document these shifts. This includes whether you’re still receiving workers’ compensation benefits for medical treatment or medical care.
  • If coworkers notice changes, such as your employer cutting your hours or altering your work restrictions, ask them to document what they observed.

4. Gather Witness Statements

  • If other employees or coworkers have seen your employer reduce your hours or treat you differently after filing for workers’ compensation benefits, ask them to provide a written statement. Witness accounts could help strengthen your case, especially if the employer cut your hours without legitimate reasons.

5. Review Your Performance Reviews

  • Review your past performance evaluations to see if there’s any unjustified change in how your employer views your work. If your reviews were positive before your workplace injury and filing for workers’ comp but suddenly become negative afterward, this may support your retaliation claim.

6. Organize Medical Documentation

  • Keep records of all medical treatment and recommendations from your authorized treating physician. If your hours were reduced, check whether your doctor ordered work restrictions, such as light duty or fewer hours. If your doctor’s office did not impose these restrictions, your employer might have reduced your hours for other reasons.
  • Having these documents can clarify whether your reduced hours were due to legitimate work restrictions or part of retaliation for filing a claim.

7. Build a Timeline

  • Create a timeline that outlines key dates: when your on-the-job injury occurred, when you filed your workers’ comp claim, when your employer cut your hours, and any related conversations or changes in work duties. This timeline can help show whether the reduction in hours was related to your workers’ compensation claim or if it appears to be retaliation.

Documenting these details protects your legal rights as an injured worker, and is a proactive step toward resolving issues with your employer. Consult a workers’ compensation attorney to help you pursue legal action if your rights have been violated. Many workers’ compensation law firms offer a no-obligation consultation to review your case and explain how Georgia’s workers’ compensation laws protect you from retaliation.

Call the Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Hasner Law PC for Help

For more information, please contact the Atlanta workers’ compensation law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.

We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:

Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878

Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334

Author Stephen Headshot
Managing Partner at Hasner Law PC
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Stephen Hasner is the founder and managing partner of Hasner Law PC. Since being licensed in Florida in 1997 and in Georgia in 1999, Stephen has worked tirelessly to help Georgia residents navigate the legal process following a serious injury. This includes injuries sustained at work, in motor vehicle accidents, and in cases of personal injury. The team at Hasner Law is dedicated to securing compensation for their clients who have been injured through no fault of their own.