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RIGHTS WHEN INJURED AT WORK |
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YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO TO YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. Management will try to force you to go to their doctor or hospital emergency room/clinic. You can call your doctor for an immediate appointment or choose an emergency room/clinic to prevent first seeing the USPS doctor. Some hospital emergency rooms/clinics are USPS contract doctors (St. Francis/George, Bethesda, Providence & Good Sam). If you choose an emergency room/clinic, stay away from USPS contract or else management will have influence on your medical restrictions. If you wind up with a USPS contract doctor, IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO INSIST THAT THE DOCTOR KEEP PATIENT INFO CONFIDENTIAL FROM MANAGERS/SUPERVISORS. If the USPS contract doctor refuses, then request the examination to stop until another doctor see you who will keep your confidentiality. If you are refused another doctor, you can insist on a “no hands on examination”. The USPS contract doctor should only release information to you or another doctor. No information should be released to managers or supervisors. Advise the doctor that the USPS wants to provide limited duty but has a history of not following the doctor’s restrictions. Ask the doctor to write out your work restrictions being very specific and give it to you. You should discuss the restrictions with the doctor to be sure you understand. Management will attempt to circumvent and interpret the restrictions the way that works best for them. DO NOT SIGN ANY PAPERS FOR A MEDICAL FACILITY CHOSEN BY THE USPS. You may be responsible for the bills if your IOD is turned down.
DO NOT ALLOW MANAGEMENT TO FORCE YOU TO WORK CONTRARY TO THE MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR DOCTOR. You should advise your doctor that the USPS usually can provide limited duty. It is best to inform your doctor that your medical limitations should be “written very specific” or the USPS will abuse you. Ask your doctor not to change the limitations unless you are advised in “writing” because the USPS will illegally bother the doctor to attempt to change the limitations.
IF YOUR DOCTOR WANTS YOU TO STAY OFF WORK TOTALLY, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO. If the doctor wants you off work, request “written documentation” that specifies “no work”. Make your doctor aware the USPS wants to provide limited duty and will illegally bother him/her to get documentation changed. Ask the doctor not to change your work status unless you are advised in “writhing”.
IT IS YOUR CHOICE WHETHER TO CALL THE UNION OFFICE. However, the Cincinnati USPS has a history of abusing employees who are injured on duty. There are rules and laws that protect you when you are injured on duty. IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW, YOU WILL PROBABLY BE DENIED YOUR RIGHTS BY THE USPS.
IT IS YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE CONTINUATION OF PAY (COP), OR SICK LEAVE, OR ANNUAL LEAVE, OR LWOP WHEN YOU COMPLETE A FORM CA-1. Continuation of Pay (COP) is the best choice you can make. Management has been known to complete the CA-1 for you and not advise you properly and not check COP for you, than tell you to sign the Form CA-1. DO NOT SIGN ANY PAPER FOR THE USPS THAT YOU HAVE NOT READ!!! Know your rights or contact the Union for help. NOTE: These rights are for being injured at work! There is a difference between being injured at work and having a work related illness. Whenever you have ANY question
about ANY of your rights,
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