If an injured worker cannot physically return to their job prior to the injury in Washington State, he or she can be retrained. I feel very conflict about retraining injured workers because, in my opinion, some of the cases we see are unrealistic.
Retraining has a cost cap and cannot take more than two years. We see good loyal workers with lifelong heavy labor work histories, relegated to desk jobs. While still grieving over the loss of a career and collapse of retirement dreams, they are enthusiastically presented with retraining plans for basic “clerical work”. Introduction to computers, basic keyboard typing, phone etiquette, intro to Microsoft software products, and so on.
The goal is entry level, minimum wage, clerical or office work. When the worker voices concerns or doubts, they are frequently brushed off and ignored. This week one client started a plan and failed, and was being presented with a new skeleton plan. The new plan includes terms of repeated classes on the assumption he would fail the first time around. Another client’s plan included one handed basic keyboarding. Does the term “hunt and peck” sound familiar?
I am supportive of retraining, but I cannot ignore the legitimate frustrations and fears my clients express. There must be a better solution. I am very grateful to live in a state that cares about its employees and labor force. However, I know I am not the only person feeling this conflict in the retraining process. These are people’s lives we are talking about. They cannot be taken lightly. How do we work together and find a better solution?
One average joes experience. As an injured worker in Washington state, I’ve experienced firsthand how the workers’ compensation system can fail those it’s meant to protect. My case highlights several troubling issues:
1. My doctor, Anisa Pea, repeatedly approved me for light duty work without properly assessing my condition or limitations. She admitted to approving my return to work due to pressure from claims agents, not based on my medical status.
2. I have an open, oozing wound at high risk of reinfection, yet was still cleared for work against the advice of other medical professionals.
3. My employer created a fictitious light duty position, essentially paying me to sleep in the office to keep their insurance rates low. This puts me at risk of worsening my condition.
4. There’s been a lack of proper diagnosis and treatment. After 4+ months, I was finally referred to a wound clinic, yet simultaneously declared fit for work.
5. I’ve experienced constant pain and faced potential amputation, yet my concerns were largely ignored.
6. The L&I system seems to prioritize getting workers back on the job over ensuring proper recovery and long-term health.
This experience has left me frustrated and disillusioned with a system that’s supposed to protect injured workers. Instead, I’ve faced apathy from medical providers, pressure from employers, and a bureaucracy that seems more concerned with closing cases than providing proper care.
My situation raises serious questions about the current state of workers’ compensation in Washington. Are we truly prioritizing worker health and recovery? Or has the system become more focused on minimizing costs for employers and insurers at the expense of injured workers?
I hope by sharing my story, I can shed light on these issues and potentially help other injured workers facing similar challenges. The workers’ compensation system needs reform to better serve those it was designed to protect when it was first created because now it seems like it’s against the average worker and instead works on behalf of employers assisting them in screwing over injured workers.