:confused: Question: Can a company make you take vacation when you have been hurt on a job so they won't have a lost time accident; even though they are paying for your treatment.

Example: employee loses thumb on a piece of equipment after trying to get it fixed for 6 months and told to use it as is. After this loss was written up and made to take his two weeks vacation to keep from having a lost time accident.

I'm not aware of any law prohibiting it. Elle? rjc?

The claim would still have to be reported to the state. If it was the loss of a thumb that would be recordable under OSHA as well, so they could not just pretend it didn't happen.

However, your employer may charge your accrued leave anytime you are off work. That doesn't change the lost time status of the claim. Using vacation can be more advantageos as it would pay your full salary. WC is only going to pay a portion.

That doesn't change the lost time status of the claim. Using vacation can be more advantageos as it would pay your full salary.

So there is no advantage for the employer to do this since it will not avoid having the claim go from medical only to lost time.