No, if you have a bona fide workers’ compensation injury and claim, and you are out of work because of it, you should not be required to use or lose your sick time or vacation time. Instead, you are considered to be out on workers’ comp—not family medical leave or any other category—and you should be receiving your weekly workers’ compensation benefits during that period. You are also entitled to remain out of work for up to a year and still have the right to reinstatement under Rhode Island law. So, you should not be docked vacation days, sick time, or any similar benefits. For clarification on your rights, you can speak with our workers compensation lawyers in Rhode Island, and you may also find helpful guidance in our RI workers’ comp benefits. Related issues like employer reporting responsibilities or workplace retaliation concerns often arise in similar situations.

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