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New Thesis of the TST Guarantees Stability or Indemnification to Workers Who Prove the Relationship Between Illness and Work Activity, Even After Dismissal, Removing the Requirement of a 15-Day Leave or INSS Benefit.
A new understanding from the Superior Labor Court guarantees 12 months of stability — or equivalent indemnification — to those who can prove that the illness has a causal or contributing link to work, even if the diagnosis comes after dismissal.
The binding legal thesis Theme 125, established in a session of the Plenary on April 25, 2025 and published in May, removed the previous requirements of leave longer than 15 days and work-related sick leave (B91) to apply Article 118 of Law 8.213/91.
In other words: the “fit” stamp on the termination examination does not end the debate when a subsequent expert examination establishes the link with the activity.
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What Changed in Labor Court
Until now, many cases were stalled due to the lack of formal “filters” — long leave and B91.
The Súmula 378, II of the TST itself already admitted stability when the occupational disease was diagnosed after dismissal, but judicial practice was inconsistent.
The Theme 125 clarified the interpretation: it is enough to prove the link, even if the recognition occurs after the end of the contract.
As a binding thesis in a repetitive appeal, the guidance must be followed by judges throughout the country.
According to the TST, the heart of the protection lies in the technical link.
This includes contributing link, when work is not the only source, but directly contributes to the onset or worsening of the disease — a scenario equivalent to a work-related accident under Law 8.213/91.
Thus, painful shoulder, spine, or wrist can be sufficient to reverse the dismissal if the report indicates a relationship with the performed tasks.
Practical Effect for Those Who Were Declared “Fit”
The termination medical examination with “fit” ceases to be an automatic barrier.
If a medical examination — administrative or judicial — confirms the causal or contributing link, the ex-employee is entitled to a temporary job guarantee for the minimum period of 12 months provided for in Article 118, convertible into indemnification when returning is not viable.
This understanding was consolidated by the TST in the decision of the IRR that established the thesis. It is common for the link to only be clarified after termination.
Precisely for this reason, the thesis states that recognition can occur after the end of the contract, without prejudice to stability.
This point reflects the accumulated experience in case law and removes formal discussions that hindered worker protection.
Possible Rights: Reinstatement or Indemnification
When work conditions allow, the natural path is reinstatement to the same position or a compatible function.
If there is practical impossibility — due to closure of the sector, serious breakdown of trust, or medical unfitness — the courts usually convert the return into corresponding indemnification for the stability period.
This solution is consistently supported by labor jurisprudence.
There is, however, a relevant caveat: if the company offers reinstatement and the employee declines without valid reason, decisions from the TST have been denying indemnification.
In 2022, for example, the 5th Panel understood that the refusal to return characterizes the claim to receive monetary compensation for the period not worked.
Each case depends on the evidence, but the guidance is well documented in rulings and official communications.
How to Prove the Link with Work
The key element is the technical report. Seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear, record medical records, certificates, and tests, and describe your tasks precisely.
In labor lawsuits, the judge may appoint an expert to assess posture, repetitiveness, pace, and ergonomics of the position.
Evidence such as photos, videos, goal emails, and schedules help reconstruct the routine. The contributing link is also accepted: if work aggravated a pre-existing problem, protection applies in the same way.
CAT Counts as Evidence and Has Deadline
The Communication of Work-Related Accident (CAT) strengthens the evidential set. The company is required to report the accident to Social Security by the next business day. In case of death, the communication must be immediate.
If the company fails to comply, the record can be made by the worker himself, their dependents, union, attending physician, or public authority.
The issuance is possible even without long leave, which corrects a practice of underreporting.
In occupational diseases, the CAT can be recorded when there is a suspicion or diagnosis related to work.
The document does not replace the expert examination, but serves as relevant evidence for the analysis of the technical link by INSS and Labor Court.
Deadlines to Act in Court
Labor lawsuits follow the constitutional regime of prescription. The worker has up to two years after the end of the contract to file the lawsuit.
They can claim amounts from the last five years counted from filing. Pay attention to this calendar, as missing the deadline prevents the analysis of the merits, including requests for reinstatement or substitutive indemnification for the stability period.
What Changes for Companies
With the binding thesis, the strategy of denying stability due to lack of B91 or leave longer than 15 days has fallen.
HR and occupational health departments will need to strengthen prevention, ergonomics, and risk management. It will be necessary to improve occupational examinations and issue the CAT when applicable.
Otherwise, the trend is to see judicial examinations recognizing the link afterwards — and generating reinstatements or indemnities with financial and reputational impact.
Essential Legal Basis
The Law 8.213/91, in Article 118, ensures a minimum stability of 12 months for those who suffered a work-related accident or illness.
The Súmula 378 already allowed for stability when the illness was diagnosed after dismissal.
The Theme 125 of the TST consolidated that no longer requires a leave longer than 15 days or B91, as long as the causal or contributing link is recognized, including after resignation. It is this normative triangle that organizes protection today.
Contrai o covid quando fazia um curso na Pmerj, fiquei internado por 50 dias na UTI, fiquei com insuficiência renal tive fazer diálise, fui reformado por invalidez sem ato de serviço. Queria transformar em ato de serviço. Pois perdi benefícios por não ser ato de serviço. Muitos outros do curso contraíram mais voltaram. Só eu não voltei e fiquei com sequela. Será que não tem nenhum outro caso como o meu. Para comparar. Preciso de orientação.
Sim eu tbm tive covid mas perdi a ação e TRT foi a favor da empresa., perdi meu irmão tbm pedi as contas e não recebi nada na rescisão a justiça não justiceira comigo eu acho que nem olharam meus exames e provas testemunhas. É lamentável.
Seria bom se bom fosse.
Uma vez que na grande maioria das empresas tem sua primeira clínica já indicada pelo RH. Onde há empresa paga aos médicos que mal te escuta e já dá seu diagnóstico favorável não para você mas sim para há empresa.
Onde ele o médico afirma categoricamente que você trabalhador está em perfeitas condições de saúde.
Sem aomenos ter ouvido se seu coração ainda bate:
Falo isso com autoridade pós tenho em minha carteira de trabalho saídas e entradas de firmas e sempre fiz exames em clínicas indicadas pela empresas ao sair e ao entrar .
Sem mas para o momento deixo aqui meus mas sinceros votos de estima e agradecimento pela atenção e meus respeitos ao assunto aqui tratado.
Atenciosamente.
José Francisco Alves.
Guanambi.ba
08/09/2025
DC.
Seria bom se bom fosse.
Uma vez que na grande maioria das empresas tem sua primeira clínica já indicada pelo RH. Onde há empresa paga aos médicos que mal te escuta e já dá seu diagnóstico favorável não para você mas sim para há empresa.
Onde ele o médico afirma categoricamente que você trabalhador está em perfeitas condições de saúde.
Sem aomenos ter ouvido se seu coração ainda bate:
Falo isso com autoridade pós tenho em minha carteira de trabalho saídas e entradas de firmas e sempre fiz exames em clínicas indicadas pela empresas ao sair e ao entrar .
Sem mas para o momento deixo aqui meus mas sinceros votos de estima e agradecimento pela atenção e meus respeitos ao assunto aqui tratado.
Atenciosamente.
José Francisco Alves.
Guanambi.ba
08/09/2025
DC.