Q: Can my employer legally attend my workmen's comp doctors visit? I'm in Texas.
I work for a manufactured homes business and I hurt my lower back on the 3rd time I hurt it they finally took me to the doctor and the safety manager took me. She then walked in to the appointment with me and sat down and even talked to the doctor. Then did the same thing for the follow-up today. Then 3 hours after getting back to work I was called into the office and given a write up for not useing a heating pad on my back enough. Because the doctor told me in my appointment that I needed to be useing it more. As well as write me up for "unsafe working" for getting hurt twice in a 6 month period. A little over 7 months ago my thumb got cut to the bone and they said that it was close enough to 6 months I am getting the write up. And on that time I had to take myself to the ER for stiches because all they wanted to do was give me a band aid and send me home.
A: Your employer may not attend the doctor's appointment with you if you do not choose. This is private healthcare. This might cause problems with the employer, however. You would also need to know if it is workers' comp through the Division or an occupational injury plan. A plan is self-administered and paid by the employer, so this would present a different situation. With respect to the write-ups, you might want to ask an employment/ labor attorney and not workers' comp attorney. Basically, it is very difficult for attorneys to mico manage every action that your employer takes against you. My advice would be to look for a different employer.
Roy Lee Warren agrees with this answer
A: They can attend if you allow them to. Tell them to make their own appointment, that way they have to pay for it. You do not feel comfortable with strangers attending your appointments, right.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
