No way would I be back to work the next night ,or the next month for that matter. An On-the-Job injury is taken quite serious by our Workplace Safety Insurance Board in Ontario. They don't want you back on the job until you're healed. They cover lost wages as well.
About the guns, try a beretta semi in 20ga, I've downed alot of birds with a 20ga and never felt undergunned. Quite a bit less recoil and muzzleblast than the 12ga. Also try wearing earplugs when hunting, takes a while to get used to, but the blast could be contributing more to your headaches than you realize.
Good Luck