When workplace injuries prevent employees from returning to their previous job duties in Green Bay and throughout Wisconsin, vocational rehabilitation benefits serve as a crucial lifeline for career rehabilitation and retraining. These benefits, available through Wisconsin's workers' compensation system, help injured workers develop new skills, obtain career counseling, and transition to alternative employment opportunities that accommodate their physical limitations. The process typically begins with a thorough assessment of the worker's capabilities, educational background, and transferable skills, followed by the development of a customized rehabilitation plan. Key aspects include job placement assistance, skills assessment, educational programs, and ongoing support throughout the transition period. For injured workers pursuing personal injury claims alongside workers' compensation benefits, understanding how vocational rehabilitation intersects with both systems is essential for maximizing recovery and ensuring long-term financial stability.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Wisconsin Statute Chapter 102, injured workers have specific rights to vocational rehabilitation services through the Worker's Compensation Division of the Department of Workforce Development. Benefits must be initiated within 60 days of the determination that the worker cannot return to their previous employment. The maximum duration for vocational rehabilitation benefits is 80 weeks, though extensions may be granted in certain circumstances. Workers are entitled to receive temporary total disability benefits during the rehabilitation period, calculated at two-thirds of their average weekly wage. Insurance carriers must cover authorized rehabilitation expenses, including tuition, books, and travel costs. Workers should be aware that they must actively participate in the rehabilitation process and that unreasonable refusal to engage in vocational rehabilitation may affect their benefits eligibility. An experienced Green Bay personal injury lawyer(link is external) will handle all aspects of the legal claim.

Click the links below to get information on legal claims from attorneys with experience in your type of workplace injury including:

• Green Bay Wisconsin spine injury attorney(link is external)
• Green Bay Wisconsin brain injury lawyer(link is external)
• Green Bay Wisconsin neck injury attorney(link is external)
• Green Bay Wisconsin fracture injury attorney(link is external).

Related Resources

Green Bay Area Courts and Administrative Offices:

• Brown County Circuit Court
• Wisconsin Worker's Compensation Division - Appleton Office
• Department of Workforce Development - Green Bay Job Center

Support Services:

• Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) - Green Bay Office
• Wisconsin Job Service
• Bay Area Workforce Development Board
• Forward Service Corporation - Green Bay Location

State Laws and Regulations:

• Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Workers' Compensation Division
• Wisconsin State Legislature Chapter 102 (Worker's Compensation)
• Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter DWD 80 (Worker's Compensation)

Return to the Green Bay workplace injury information page