Michigan Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Practice Exam

Employees receiving worker's compensation cannot do which of the following?

1. Return to work immediately

2. Sue the employer

3. File an additional claim

4. Participate in rehabilitation programs

The correct answer is: Sue the employer

Employees receiving worker's compensation are typically barred from suing their employer for injuries sustained in the course of employment. This is because worker's compensation is designed as a no-fault system; in exchange for providing benefits such as medical care and wage replacement to injured employees, employers are generally protected from lawsuits by those employees. This legal framework intends to simplify the claims process for injured workers, ensuring they receive prompt medical and financial assistance without the need for protracted litigation against their employers. As a result, if an employee accepts worker's compensation benefits, they forfeit their right to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the employer for that particular injury. While employees can often return to work, file additional claims for related issues, or participate in rehabilitation, the inability to sue the employer stands as a fundamental principle of the workers' compensation system.