Cousin needs help

[chicago dog]

My cousin is a plumber and had an accident on the job. He ended up with a hand injury but luckily it was just soft tissue damage. No bones are broken. But it hurts when he uses his hand. The doctor has cleared him for light duty with restrictions. But his boss want him to rest up at least a month.

Everyone loves him. In fact the boss thinks of him as family. He is the best plumber there and the boss wants him back as soon as possible. The place is falling apart with out him, but his boss is concerned about the restrictions. The boss does not want to do anything that will make things worse for my cousin.

My cousin is on worker's compensation, it does not pay a lot but it is enough to take care of the bills.

He's scared that he might be let go if he does not get better. I told him his boss loves him, there is no way he will be let go. But he says I am wrong, that if he does not get better and does not go back to work, the boss can let him go.

Who is right? Can his boss let him go if he does not get better? Can the boss refuse for him to work if he is restricted to only light duty?

[1171]

having a work injury doesn't give any worker immunity from termination.
your cousin is probably more practical then you think; no business is forced to provide light duty.
he needs to find a happy medium; work enough to keep the business going but not too much to hamper his recovery.

[Cervical_Fusion]

Yep Yep and Yep