You got hurt at work. You went out on workers' compensation. You partially recover and come back to work on "light duty." Some companies specifically set up light duty for returning injured workers -- helps save money with the workers' comp. insurance. Light duty is provided for a short interim period of time. It is not a life-long position, but only until you are fully released to assume your original job duties. So to is workers' compensation - for short durations. If your injury was severe and you can no longer perform the "essential functions of the job," then you can be terminated. That is when you apply for social security disability. A company is not obligated to "carry" an individual for life because that individual was injured at work, unless that individual made an agreement with the company to have a job in exchange for not suing the company for the injury.
I am not an attorney, but you can always contact a workers' compensation attorney for a consultation.
