Light Duty
What light duty work is, how return-to-work light duty works under workers' comp, whether you can refuse it, and how staffing agencies find light-duty work.September 24, 2026
3 min read
Running an Agency
Written by the NextCrew team
Definition
Light duty is temporary modified work given to an employee who cannot do their full job while recovering from an injury or illness, most often a workplace injury under workers' compensation. The duties fit the doctor's restrictions, such as no lifting over a set weight, and the goal is a safe return to full duty.
Light duty is a return-to-work tool, and for a staffing agency it is an unusual one. A client-site employer can move an injured worker to a desk in the same building. An agency's injured Crew Member may not be able to return to the client where they were hurt, so light duty may mean finding a different assignment that fits the restrictions, or work at the agency's own office.
How does light duty work?
A typical light-duty path
Why do employers offer light duty?
- Lower claim costs. Workers' comp wage-replacement costs usually drop when the employee is earning again.
- Faster recovery and return. Staying connected to work tends to make a full return more likely.
- Premiums. Claims history drives workers' comp pricing, so managing claims well matters. See staffing agency insurance.
Do you have to accept light duty?
It depends on the state and the offer. In many states, refusing a suitable light-duty offer that fits the doctor's restrictions can affect workers' comp wage benefits. The offer usually has to be in writing and match the restrictions exactly. Disability and leave laws may also apply, so employers should get advice before acting on a refusal.
How should a staffing agency handle light duty?
- 1Get the restrictions in writing
From the treating provider, with a review date.
- 2Ask the client first
Some clients can offer modified work on site.
- 3Look across other clients
A seated or low-lift role elsewhere may fit.
- 4Consider the agency's own office
Temporary internal work can bridge the gap.
- 5Document the offer
In writing: duties, hours, location, pay and start date.
Bottom line: light duty only works when the offer matches the restrictions exactly and is documented. Agencies have more options than they think, across every client they staff.
How NextCrew helps
NextCrew does not manage workers' comp claims. It helps an agency find and document a suitable assignment:
- Search the whole pool of work. Find open jobs across clients by position and location.
- Notes and tasks. Timestamped notes record the offer, and tasks with due dates track restriction review dates.
- Workers' comp codes. A Workers Comp Codes table keeps the right code on each position.
Frequently asked questions
Related terms
- Workers' comp class codes: how workers' comp premiums are classified.
- Staffing agency insurance: the policies behind injury costs.
- Redeployment: moving a Crew Member to a new assignment.
- Co-employment: who owns what when a Crew Member is hurt at a client site.
General information, not legal or medical advice. Workers' compensation rules vary by state.