Workers’ compensation insurance provides coverage for work-related injuries and illnesses as required under the workers’ compensation laws of the state. Workers’ compensation insurance covers all authorized expenses related to the treatment of a work-related illness or injury and provides “lost time benefits” when an employee must be absent from work on a workers’ compensation disability leave.
(A) Workers’ compensation considered as FMLA leave time.
(1) An absence resulting from a work-related injury or illness will be considered as FMLA leave time if the employee has worked for the city for at least 12 months and for a minimum of 1,250 hours in the immediately preceding calendar year (not including holidays).
(2) The employee will be mailed the notification that he or she is being placed on FMLA during his or her absence from work while on workers’ compensation.
(B) Reporting a work-related injury or illness.
(1) Any illness or injury related to an employee’s work assignment must be reported to the department head so that the necessary forms can be completed and sent with the employee prior to evaluation and treatment, if possible. The city will inform an injured employee of its approved medical facility at the time of injury.
(2) The department head or injured employee must notify the executive officer as soon as possible so that all claims and compensation can be administered properly and in a timely manner.
(C) Compensation and benefits for an absence resulting from a work-related injury or illness and a workers’ compensation disability leave.
(1) An employee injured while on duty will be paid by the city his or her full pay starting day one of the injury. If the absence from work extends longer than 21 calendar days, the initial seven-day waiting period will be retroactively paid by the workers’ compensation insurance carrier. The employee will be required to return this payment to the city.
(2) Employees injured while in a duty status will be paid the difference of his or her normal straight time salary and his or her workers’ compensation insurance benefits by the city. The city will pay the employee his or her normal (straight time) bi-weekly paycheck. The employee will then turn the workers’ compensation check over to the city to be reimbursed for the difference.
(D) Insurance coverage. Group health insurance coverage and other insurance benefits will continue on the same basis, as coverage would have been provided had the employee been continuously employed during the period of a workers’ compensation disability leave, as long as the employee pays his or her regular portion of the premium on a timely basis. Employees must arrange with the Clerk-Treasurer’s office to pay their portion of this insurance coverage.
(E) Secondary job. If an employee has a secondary job and is required to be off work from his or her primary job with the city due to a workers’ compensation injury, he or she will be prohibited from working the secondary job until he or she is released to return to work at his or her primary job.
(Ord. 2013-7, passed 8-28-2013)