Light Duty & Modified Work

After an injury or illness, your doctor may clear you to work with restrictions, like no lifting over 20 pounds or no climbing. Light duty (or modified duty) lets you keep working and earning within those limits while you heal. It works only if the restrictions are real and respected.

• Workers
• Employers

How it usually works

1. Your doctor writes specific restrictions: what you can and can’t do, and for how long.
2. You give the restrictions to your employer and keep a copy.
3. The employer offers work within those limits, sometimes a different job, fewer hours or a different site.
4. Restrictions are updated at each doctor visit until you’re released to full duty.

Your responsibilities

• Follow your restrictions on and off the job.
• Speak up if you’re asked to do something outside them. Don’t “just help out” with a lift you’re restricted from.
• Tell your doctor exactly what your job involves, so restrictions make sense.
• Keep all appointments and report any worsening.

Workers’ comp

• If light duty pays less than your normal job, workers’ comp may pay part of the difference (often called temporary partial disability).
• Refusing a light-duty job that fits your restrictions can reduce or stop wage benefits in many states.
• Rules vary a lot by state. Ask your claims adjuster, union or a workers’ comp attorney. See Workers’ Compensation.

Recordkeeping

For OSHA recordkeeping, a work injury that leads to restricted work or a job transfer is recordable, and employers must count those days. Light duty doesn’t make an injury “go away.” See Recordkeeping & Reporting.

Not just work injuries

For non-work conditions, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act may require reasonable accommodations, which can include temporary light duty. See Disability Accommodations and Pregnant Workers.

Last updated: October 2, 2026