If my employer cannot provide me with a light duty position can they put me on a medical leave status?

I was involved in a car accident and my doctor has put me on light duty. My employer does not have any positions available that fulfill the light duty requirement. I am being told that this puts me on a medical leave of absence and that I will now have to pay for my insurance premiums in full until I return to work. I am ready and willing to work, as long as it fits my doctors orders. Can my employer force me to pay the full insurance premium when they are the ones not accommodating me with a light duty position?

I thought they would be able to put me in an office position as well but they refuse to. I work at a company that has several different group homes for developmentally disabled clients. Restrains with the clients can happen all of the time, that's why I can't return to normal duty. I almost feel like they are making sure they do not have a light duty position available so they force me to pay the extremely high insurance premium.

Yes, they can. You should check with the auto insurance carrier of whomever's fault the accident was and have them pay the premiums, as it is a result of the accident. Your employer does not need to make accommodations for you as they were not at fault for the accident. And they don't have to pay you or your insurance premiums because of someone else's mistake.

You are looking at it backwards-

The problem is not that your employer is "not accommodating me with a light duty position", it is that you are not able to do your job.

It is not their fault that you got into an accident, and (cold hearted as it seems) not their problem, either.

If you can't do your job, then why do you feel you deserve to keep getting compensation?

Yes, it is well within their rights to refuse to pay insurance premiums for an employee that is not working. Actually, that is the norm.

unfortunately they are not required by law to offer insurance, much less pay for it. being that you were not hurt at work they do not have to provide any special jobs until you get better. so yes they can do everything that you wished they wouldn't

Yes. If they don't have the work, they don't have the work. Sorry.

isn't that a claim for farther damages from the car accident ? and reimbursable from their insurance

Your employer can't have you answering a phone or some form of office work?