Returning to Work After Losing a Hand: Can I Rejoin My Company and How?

One year ago, I was in an accident and lost my left hand. I want to rejoin the company. Is it possible to rejoin? If yes, how? If not, why?

Hi, whether to accommodate you or not will be at the discretion of your employer. You need to apply and check.

What is your nature of work?

You claim you lost your left hand in the accident, so will you be able to discharge your duties normally as before? Your ex-employer will analyze these factors before hiring you.

Dear Friend,

An accident at the workplace while performing a job does not affect employment status. Rejoining employment after an accident, such as losing a left hand, depends purely on the employer's decision, not the employee's choice. The employer may allow rejoining if the individual can perform the job effectively or if there is another job that matches their competency and is available in the company.

If the accident occurs at the workplace, the company will provide compensation and may offer employment opportunities to employees eager to return to work.

Your accident was a year ago. So, have you not been working for a year?

Company's Response to Your Situation

How did the company deal with the matter? Have they terminated your services, or are they paying you salary/compensation even though you did not report to work?

Rejoining the Company

There is no legal restriction on you working again for the same company. However, it is difficult to provide a better answer without some additional details on the above points.

Any suggestion depends on whether you have ceased to be in employment due to retirement on medical grounds or resignation following the accident. In other words, does the employer-employee relationship still exist?

Hi friend,

Subject to the confirmation of whether the accident occurred 'in the course of employment' or otherwise

How is it that you are raising this question after one year? I presume that you would have recovered from the medical procedures during this time. If so, how this one year was treated in your service by your office is not known. Presumably, for part of this period, you should have been on paid leave, either EL/PL or sick/medical leave, loss of pay leave, and/or a combination of all three. Altogether, approximately 6 months could have been spent on leave. Of course, this is subject to the fact that you applied for leave and were granted it based on your eligibility. If so, the other part of the 6 months possibly could be 'leave without pay,' and your service could be considered 'continuous.'

In case your handicap does not hamper your efficiency in discharging your duties

You will have a better chance of requesting reinstatement. Much will depend on how medically fit you are to carry out your duties. Even otherwise, your office can consider your case on 'compassionate' grounds.