Can Employer Force You to Go on Short Term Disability

[Efoster9]

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Georgia

I was put on bed rest due to pregnancy complications last Monday with my doctor reevaluating in a week. I took vacation time for that week. I just saw my doctor and she is putting me on bed rest for a month. I called my boss and said that I can still do work from home via the Internet. She said they would be looking into short term or long term disability first. Can they put me on disability if I am able to perform most of my duties via the computer? Also, I work at a church in Georgia with about 50-70 employees. Thanks!

[Disagreeable]

They are not putting you on disability. They are refusing to allow you to work from home. There is a difference. You are free to go to work every day, if you have a doctors release.

[jk]

is anybody else allowed to "telecommute"?

[Efoster9]

I've tele commuted many times before although never for longer than 5 days.

[cbg]

Yes, they absolutely are allowed to require that you begin your disabilty leave. They are not obligated to allow you to telecommute long term.

[Beth3]

Can they put me on disability if I am able to perform most of my duties via the computer? They can put you on medical leave if they don't want you to work from home or if they feel you are unable to perform all your regular duties from home. If that happens, then it's up to you to file for any disability income benefit your employer provides.

[Jack_Merton]

They are allowed to require you to take disability leave. Just out of curiosity, can you realistically perform ALL of your duties via the internet? While they're not legally required to allow you to telecommute, if it's doable, perhaps you could persuade them?