Policies, Union Contracts, Handbooks > Support Staff Policies and Procedures

Workers' Compensation

(Revised 04/05)

Policy

Applies to:

All persons with whom the University maintains an employer-employee relationship, as determined by MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation

The University pays Workers' Compensation benefits to employees who suffer an illness or injury arising out of and in the course of their employment, in accordance with the Michigan Workers' Compensation Act.

The University also pays an Accident Time benefit, to eligible employees, which is not required by law.

Definitions:

1. Workers' Compensation
   • Weekly disability benefits are payable commencing with the eighth calendar day of work-related disability.
   • After seven calendar days of absence, the University will automatically supplement the Workers' Compensation benefits with accumulated sick leave for eligible employees to keep the employee at full base wage/salary.
   • When accrued sick leave is exhausted, accrued vacation or personal leave days may be used for supplementation upon the employee's written request.
   • If the employee does not have accrued sick leave, vacation or personal leave days, or when the time has been exhausted, only regular Workers' Compensation benefits are paid.
   • Authorized medical expenses directly related to the illness or injury are also paid, per the fee schedule, by the University and are not covered by the group health insurance policies.
2. Accident time
   • Payable as a University employee benefit to employees who have completed three months of continuous service.
   • Employee receives full regular base wage/salary during the first seven calendar days of absence from work due to work-related disability. This benefit is not charged to accumulated sick leave credits.
   • Not available to students and on-call employees. Accident time pay is available to temporary employees who have completed 90 days of continuous service.

Determination of eligibility:

1. Only MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation is authorized to determine eligibility for benefits.
2. MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation will resolve questions concerning employment status, whether disability is work-related, dates and amount of payment, reports to the proper government authority, and communications with legal counsel.

Procedure

General procedure:

Employee: Employees who suffer a work-related illness/injury should immediately report the injury to the supervisor.

Supervisor:

1. Supervisors are to immediately call an ambulance (9-1-1) if the illness/injury is a critical emergency. The ambulance driver will transport the individual to the nearest medical facility available for treatment.
2. When the illness/injury is not critical, the supervisor is to complete the Authorization to Invoice MSU and direct the employee to the medical facility indicated on the Authorization.
   • The primary medical provider designated by MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation is Olin Health Center. Effective April 25, 2005, the Sparrow After-Hours Clinic/Urgent Care located at the Health Science Pavilion relocated to 2248 Mt. Hope Road, Suite 106, Okemos.  The Sparrow Urgent Care should be used between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., Monday - Friday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (the clinic is open 7 days a week).  Sparrow Hospital Emergency Room should be used for critical emergencies or when Olin and Sparrow Urgent Care are closed.
   • If an injury or illness involves the following and/or the employee is treated at Sparrow, the employee must follow up at Olin Health Center:
     • hepatitis, AIDS, human blood, or bodily fluids exposure,
     • work with a respirator,
     • work around or with asbestos,
     • work with formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, hazardous waste,
     • work with pesticides or other chemicals, and/or
     • work with or around animals.
3. For on-campus work-related injury cases when the illness/injury is not critical and the employee cannot drive him/herself to Olin, the Olin Courtesy Van may be called between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 517-353-4700.  Spartan-Yellow Cab may be called anytime after 5:00 p.m. at 517-482-1444.
4. Within 24 hours after a reported illness/injury, the injured worker is to complete the Report of Claimed Occupational Injury or Illness. Copies must be distributed to the parties listed at the bottom of the form. Do not wait for medical reports before filling out this form.
5. An Occupational Injury Restriction Report, with or without restrictions, must be provided by the employee to his/her immediate supervisor. An employee capable of performing the essential functions of his/her job will be returned to work. An employee requesting reasonable accommodation of his/her position will also be returned to work upon accommodation.
   • Accommodation requests should be communicated to the employee's immediate supervisor. Supervisors needing assistance with these requests may contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (517-353-9642) (see Policy and Procedure for disability/reasonable accommodations).
6. Out-of-town supervisors should send employees with injuries to the nearest medical facility that has the capability of treating the injury. An Authorization to Invoice MSU for employees not in the Lansing area should be completed and sent with the injured individual.

Employing Department:

When an employee will be absent from work beyond the date of the reported work-related illness/injury, the department submits an Injury Absence Report to MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation. This form is used in place of a regular time card or time report.  If an employee has worked for only one hour on the date of reported illness/ injury, he/she should be paid as if he/she were working that day (via time card or as usual). When an individual is scheduled for overtime on the date of reported illness/injury, he/she must be paid as though the overtime was worked. Payment for paid time is not to be deducted from sick leave, vacation or personal leave accruals. The Injury Absence form must be received by MSU Human Resources Benefits by 5:00 p.m. Monday following each week the employee is absent. All necessary forms for processing a Workers' Compensation claim are obtainable from General Stores at 517-355-1700 or from MSU Human Resources.

When an employee on layoff or leave of absence (including illness and/or disability leaves due to Workers' Compensation) accepts a work assignment (half-time or greater), the original ending date of the leave may be extended by the number of days employed. The employee's record will indicate both the leave of absence or layoff status (primary) and the temporary employment status (multi-assignment).

Refer questions to:

MSU Human Resources Workers' Compensation (telephone 517-353-4434 or e-mail benefitsinfo@hr.msu.edu)