You just got a letter that says your doctor has released you to return to work, but only with restrictions: no heavy lifting, no climbing, and limited standing. That usually means light duty - temporary or permanent job tasks that are easier, safer, or more limited than your regular work so you can keep working without going beyond medical restrictions. It may involve shorter shifts, desk work instead of field work, or removing the parts of the job that could aggravate an injury.

In practice, light duty matters because it can change both your paycheck and your workers' compensation benefits. If your employer has suitable work available within your restrictions, you may be expected to try it. If the light-duty job pays less than your regular position, you may still qualify for partial wage-loss benefits, often called partial incapacity benefits. If no suitable work is available, that can support a claim for ongoing lost-wage benefits.

In Maine, disputes over whether a light-duty job is truly suitable often turn on medical records, written restrictions, and whether the offered job is real and available. The Maine Workers' Compensation Act and the Maine Workers' Compensation Board govern these issues. If an employer says you can return but the duties exceed your restrictions, that can affect a petition for benefits, a work capacity dispute, or whether benefits continue after an injury.