You Can Resign... But It Comes With Strings Attached

If you're receiving workers' compensation benefits in Ohio, you can technically quit your job at any time. There's no law that requires you to stay with your employer while collecting benefits. However, quitting can affect the type and amount of benefits you receive going forward. Ohio’s workers’ comp system is designed to provide wage replacement and medical treatment while you recover from a work-related injury—not necessarily to support a career change.

Quitting can raise questions about your earning capacity, work status, and whether your benefits should continue. The decision could reduce or even cut off certain benefits, especially if your employer or the Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) argues you’ve voluntarily limited your income.

Which Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Affected by Quitting

Workers’ compensation includes multiple types of benefits, and quitting your job doesn’t impact all of them equally:

• Medical benefits: These usually continue, regardless of your employment status, as long as the treatment is approved and related to your injury.
• Temporary Total Disability (TTD): This is often reduced or terminated after quitting, especially if you're medically cleared for light duty and you voluntarily leave your job.
• Wage loss compensation: This benefit is heavily tied to your employment efforts. Quitting your job without a valid medical reason or job-related cause can result in denied or significantly reduced payments.
• Vocational rehabilitation: You may still qualify if you're participating in retraining, but quitting could make it harder to justify eligibility.

Reasons for Quitting That May Protect Your Benefits

In some cases, quitting may not disrupt your benefits—especially if your decision is tied directly to your injury or the work environment. Valid examples include:

• Your employer refuses to accommodate restrictions ordered by your doctor
• Your work environment has become unsafe or discriminatory following your injury
• Your treating physician advises against returning to the workplace
• You’re moving because of long-term disability and can no longer work in that geographic area

In these situations, documentation is essential. Medical records, written employer communications, and any formal employment actions (like demotion or reduced hours) can help protect your eligibility for ongoing benefits.

How the BWC and Employers Respond

When you quit, both your employer and the BWC may challenge your ongoing eligibility for benefits. Common arguments they may raise include:

• You’re voluntarily unemployed and therefore not entitled to wage replacement
• You are capable of earning income elsewhere but are not seeking work
• You’ve ended your employment relationship, so return-to-work programs or accommodations are no longer relevant

These challenges are more likely to succeed if you lack medical justification or fail to document your reasons for leaving. Claimants who leave a job without discussing the situation with their attorney or physician often end up facing reduced or terminated benefits.

Importance of the “Voluntary Abandonment” Rule

Ohio recognizes a legal concept called voluntary abandonment of employment. If you voluntarily remove yourself from the workforce—by quitting, retiring, or being fired for cause—your eligibility for TTD and other benefits may end.

However, if you can prove your inability to work is entirely due to your work-related injury, this rule may not apply. Courts have ruled in favor of injured workers when they had strong medical evidence showing they were still disabled regardless of their employment status.

Can You Change Jobs While on Workers’ Comp?

Yes, you can switch employers while receiving workers' comp benefits, but the process must be handled carefully. If your new job pays less or is outside your medical restrictions, you could be entitled to wage loss compensation. But if the new role pays more or is considered a step up, it could prompt a reassessment of your disability level and wage replacement eligibility.

To minimize risk:

• Consult your doctor before taking any new job
• Get a written description of the new job’s duties
• Submit all changes to your case manager or the BWC promptly

Should You Quit? A Risk vs. Reward Decision

Before quitting, weigh the short-term stress of staying with your employer against the long-term consequences to your claim. You may lose income, limit your rehab opportunities, or even face claim denial. In contrast, staying employed—even in a limited or modified capacity—can keep your claim intact and improve your odds of receiving full benefits.

Speak with a workers’ compensation attorney before making any decisions. They can evaluate your medical status, help document your reasons for leaving, and determine whether your benefits can be protected.

Conclusion

While quitting your job during an open workers’ comp claim is legally allowed in Ohio, it’s not without consequence. How it impacts your benefits depends on your medical condition, your reasons for leaving, and how well you document the situation.

Need Legal Help? Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law is One Phone Call Away

Navigating Ohio Workers Compensation claims can be challenging. Fortunately, you don't need to do it alone. The experienced lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, are available 24/7 to help you understand your legal options, gather necessary evidence, and build a strong case to secure the settlement you deserve.

Contact us now for a free legal review.