Policies & Contracts

525 - Workers' Compensation

Subject: Workers' Compensation

Section: U525

Date: July, 2019

Purpose:

To provide guidelines for Workers’ Compensation required insurance payments to employees for injury or illness which arises out of and in the course of employment. Claims are managed by the Office of Risk Management.

Policy:

The University will provide compensation for lost wages when an employee is found to have suffered a compensable injury or illness which arises out of and in the course of employment. Reimbursement for associated medical bills and services for treatment and recovery is included.

Guidelines:

  1. If case of life threatening injuries, dial 123 from a campus phone or 773.702.8181 from a non-campus phone. If you are located in an off-campus facility please call 911 and the emergency protocol is to be followed.
  2. If an injury or illness requires hospitalization, there are strict reporting guidelines. The Office of Risk Management or safety@uchicago.edu must be notified immediately, 24/7.
  3. The University employee is to go to University Occupational Medicine Clinic (UCOM) at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), D136, for an initial evaluation of injury or illness, or the UCMC emergency room if severe.
  4. The University employee is required to notify a supervisor or Human Resources Partner (HRP) of an accident and submit a written statement of the injury or illness as soon as it occurs (and no later than 48 hours later than the date of occurrence) and complete the Employee Statement of Injury or Illness, Accrual Option Form, and read and sign the Workers' Compensation Rights and Responsibilities and Authorization to Release Information.
  5. The University employee, supervisor, or HRP shall ensure the injury or illness is entered into the University of Chicago Accident Incident Reporting System (UCAIR) which will immediately notify Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) and the Office of Research Safety (ORS). As deemed necessary, ORS will conduct a root cause analysis investigation and develop a corrective action plan to rectify any unsafe condition (refer to the Accident Incident Reporting and Investigation Program).
  6. The supervisor will be required to complete the Supervisor’s First Report of the accident and Form 100 to authorize the UCOM/UCMC ER to evaluate and treat. Form 100 can also be completed by the HRP.
  7. The University employee who has a compensable injury or illness and is unable to report to work in order to recover and receive treatment, will be eligible to receive compensation for lost wages based upon a rate of 66-2/3% of his/her Average Weekly Wage established by the State of Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, up to a maximum amount set by the Commission. (See http://www.iwcc.il.gov/benefits.htm.) Payments are made independent of payroll and are not taxed.
  8. Compensation payments begin on the fourth day of lost time, unless lost time is 14 days or more, at which time the first three days will be compensated retroactively.
  9. Related medical and rehabilitation expenses including medications, therapy, supportive devices, and doctors’ appointments may be paid directly by the University's claim administrator or an employee with a compensable injury or illness may receive reimbursement if expenses were paid.
  10. An employee may, but is not required to, use any accrued sick leave, vacation or personal holiday to supplement Workers’ Compensation payments. Election to receive supplemental pay requires the employee to complete the Accrual Option Form.
  11. FMLA leave will run concurrently with Workers’ Compensation Lost Time.
  12. Before returning to work, an employee will be required to provide a release to return to work from the treating physician if there was any lost time from work.
  13. The University prohibits retaliation against any employee who, in good faith, seeks Workers' Compensation benefits.

Employees represented by a union may be governed by the appropriate bargaining unit agreement.