Maine § 39-A §218 Worker reinstatement rights

Maine Statutes

§ 39-A §218 — Worker reinstatement rights

Maine § 39-A §218

Title 39-AWORKERS' COMPENSATION

Part 1MAINE WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT OF 1992

Ch. 5COMPENSATION AND SERVICES

This text of Maine § 39-A §218 (Worker reinstatement rights) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 39-A, § 39-A §218 (2026).

Text

Upon petition of an injured employee, the board may require, after hearing, that the employee be reinstated as required by this section.

1.Reinstatement rights. When an employee has suffered a compensable injury, the employee is entitled, upon request, to reinstatement to the employee's former position if the position is available and suitable to the employee's physical condition. If the employee's former position is not available or suitable, the employee is entitled, upon request, to reinstatement to any other available position suitable to the employee's physical condition.

2.Reasonable accommodation required. In order to facilitate the placement of an injured employee as required under this section, the employer must make reasonable accommodations for the physical condition of the em

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Upon petition of an injured employee, the board may require, after hearing, that the employee be reinstated as required by this section.
1.
Reinstatement rights.
When an employee has suffered a compensable injury, the employee is entitled, upon request, to reinstatement to the employee's former position if the position is available and suitable to the employee's physical condition. If the employee's former position is not available or suitable, the employee is entitled, upon request, to reinstatement to any other available position suitable to the employee's physical condition.
2.
Reasonable accommodation required.
In order to facilitate the placement of an injured employee as required under this section, the employer must make reasonable accommodations for the physical condition of the employee unless the employer can demonstrate that no reasonable accommodation exists or that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the employer. In determining whether undue hardship exists, the board shall consider:
3.
Time period; discrimination prohibited.
The employer's obligation to reinstate the employee continues until 2 years, or 3 years if the employer has over 200 employees, after the date of the injury. An employer who reinstates an employee under this section may not subsequently discriminate against that employee in any employment decision, including decisions related to tenure, promotion, transfer or reemployment following a layoff, because of the employee's assertion of a claim or right under this Act. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to limit any protection offered to an employee by section 353.
4.
Limitations.
This section does not obligate an employer to offer an injured employee employment or reemployment in:
5.
Failure to comply.
The employer's failure to comply with the obligations under this section disqualifies the employer or insurance carrier from exercising any right it may otherwise have to reduce or terminate the employee's benefits under this Act. The disqualification continues as long as the employer fails to offer reinstatement or until the employee accepts other employment.
6.
Burden of proof.
The petitioning party has the burden of proof on all issues regarding claims under this section except that the employer always retains the burden of proof regarding the availability or nonavailability of work.
7.
Rehabilitation plans.
All obligations under this section are suspended during the implementation of a rehabilitation plan under section 217.
8.
Foreign workers.
If an employee is prevented from accepting an offer of reinstatement because of residence in a foreign country or termination of status as a lawfully employable alien, the employee is deemed to have refused the offer.