Medical incapacity can result from an injury, whether it occurs at home or at work, or from a long-term medical condition.

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If you sustain an injury that makes you unable to work, ACC will provide compensation of up to 80% of your regular income. To receive payments, you must visit a doctor as soon as possible after the injury, as payments should start within a week of your initial consultation.

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If the injury happened at work, your employer is required to pay you for the first week of your incapacity. If the injury occurred outside of work, you would need to use your sick leave or annual leave.

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Employment issues can arise when an employee takes a long time to recover, and ACC determines that they can only return to work on restricted duties. Some employers may not understand their legal obligations and may pressure employees to work more than what ACC has authorized or try to use other reasons to terminate their employment.

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An employer is not obliged to hold a job open indefinitely for an employee who is unable to work for an extended period. Therefore, it is essential for both employees and employers to understand their respective obligations.