You can quit your job while on workers’ comp in Atlanta, but that does not mean you should. Depending on why you quit (and what plans you have after quitting), you may see a reduction in your benefits. You could even lose your workers’ comp benefits entirely if you start a new job. Before taking such measures, consult an Atlanta workers’ compensation lawyer.
Your attorney will explain the pros and cons of quitting your job. They will also advise you about whether quitting makes sense, as this could be an unnecessary and potentially harmful move.
You May Have Good Reasons to Quit Your Job While Receiving Workers’ Comp, But You Must Understand the Potential Consequences of Doing So
There are many potential reasons to quit a job after suffering a workplace injury or illness. For example, you might be on bad terms with your employer and feel those differences are irreconcilable. You might know your health will prevent you from doing the job in the future, and you may want your employer to hire someone to replace you.
These are plausible realities, but you should never quit without giving great thought to:
A Possible Reduction in Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits
If you quit your job, you could lose your workers’ compensation wage-replacement benefits, creating a potentially significant financial burden for you and your family.
The Loss of Potential Unemployment Benefits
If your employer fires you, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits (potentially in addition to workers’ compensation benefits). If you quit, you may lose the safety net of unemployment pay.
An Atlanta workers’ benefits lawyer will learn every relevant detail of your employment situation. They will determine whether you will become ineligible for unemployment benefits if you decide to quit your job.
Professional Opportunities Falling Through, Leaving You in Financial Limbo
Consider a scenario in which:
- You are injured or sick due to work-related hazards.
- You can no longer fulfill your professional duties due to your health problems.
- You find another part-time or full-time job that you can do, and that will provide the long-term stability you seek.
- You quit your job to pursue the new opportunity, but the new opportunity does not materialize (perhaps, for example, the prospective employer misled you into thinking the job was yours, when in fact, it was not).
If this happens, you might lose the ability to secure unemployment benefits because you quit your previous job. You could also face an interruption in your workers’ compensation benefits.
It could make sense to quit your job and move to a new one you’re better suited for. However, you may need written guarantees from a future employer to protect yourself from professional and financial limbo (and the stresses that come with unexpected unemployment).
Our Atlanta eligibility guidelines attorneys are sticklers for the laws and realities involved in workers’ compensation claims. We will detail everything you need to know if you’re considering quitting your job.
For a free legal consultation, call (404) 888-8888
Georgia Workers Must Always Be Prepared to Lose Their Job (Even While Injured or Sick)
As the Georgia Department of Labor (DOL) explains, both employers and employees generally have a right to terminate employment “at any time, with or without cause, for any reason or no reason at all…”. This means:
- You can be fired or laid off at any time, even if you are suffering from a work-related illness
- You can also quit at any time for any reason (though, again, we must stress that this could be a detrimental decision)
Just because you can leave your job does not mean quitting is the right decision for you.
Never Quit a Job Without Consulting an Atlanta Workers’ Comp Attorney First
An Atlanta personal injury lawyer familiar with workers’ comp laws will:
- Speak with you about your health problems and professional circumstances
- Review the workers’ compensation benefits you are currently receiving or plan to receive
- Discuss the possibility of you quitting your job (and the related possibility that your employer might fire you or lay you off in the future)
- Recommend a personalized strategy for securing or continuing any benefits you are entitled to
If you have already quit your job, it is just as important to hire a lawyer. Whether or not quitting was the right decision, a lawyer can provide guidance and pursue any current or future compensation you are entitled to.
Forget About Quitting for a Moment. First, You Must Receive Fair Workers’ Comp Benefits.
A discussion about quitting your job is worth having, especially if the consideration is weighing heavy on your mind. More pressing, though, is your need to receive any workers’ compensation payments you are entitled to.
When you speak with your personal injury attorney, they will discuss the status of your workers’ comp claim. If you need assistance with the claims process, our legal team will:
- Document how you came to suffer a work-related injury or illness, gathering evidence supporting your account
- Review your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy, becoming familiar with all relevant details of that policy
- Secure documentation of your covered losses, including medical bills and lost wages
- Represent you throughout the claims process, as we will protect you from bad-faith tactics, do the leg work, and demand the settlement you deserve
Our attorneys have represented over 10,000 Georgians, including our fair share of injured and sick workers. Allow our experienced team of Atlanta workers’ comp lawyers to be your advocates.
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Call Bader Law Injury Lawyers for a Free Workers’ Comp Consultation and Answers to Your Questions
When you suffer a work-related injury or sickness, you might have a long list of questions. Let us provide the answers, including whether it would be a good idea to quit your job. Our guidance will be rooted in experience, legal training, and your best interests.
Call Bader Law today for your free legal consultation about hiring an Atlanta workers’ comp lawyer. Do not wait, as the slightest mistake or delay could have severe negative consequences.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
