Workers' Compensation

Policy

Workers' Compensation provides benefits to employees who sustain work-related injuries or contract occupational diseases while carrying out the duties and responsibilities of their employment. Benefits are in the form of compensation for medical expenses and compensation for disability because of injury or illness.

It is the policy of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte to handle all claims for Workers' Compensation in a timely and equitable manner. University employees suffering from non-life threatening work-related injuries or occupational diseases will be referred to Student Health Services for such treatment and referral as may be decided upon by the Student Health Services professional staff.

For purposes of this policy, the term "Employee" is as defined by the North Carolina General Statutes Workers' Compensation Act, N.C. Gen. Stat. 97-1 et seq., which in general means every person engaged in employment by the University under any appointment or contract of hire or apprenticeship (excluding those who are contracted through temporary agencies).

Responsibilities and Procedures

1. The injured employee must immediately (or as soon as possible thereafter) provide notice of the accident or injury to their immediate supervisor by completing an employee accident report form. With reference to occupational illnesses, notice must be provided immediately after the employee is first informed by a medical professional of the nature and work-related cause of the illness.     

2. Supervisors must report and investigate all accidents to minimize further occurrence, injury to others or property damage. The procedures for reporting and investigating accidents are set forth in Personnel Information Memorandum #26: Incident Prevention.

3. Workers' Compensation benefits cannot be paid unless written notice is given by the employee within thirty (30) days of the date of the accident or onset. Exceptions to this requirement will only be granted if the North Carolina Industrial Commission determines that there is a reasonable excuse for the delay and the University has not been prejudiced by such delay.

4. Student Health Services is the primary contact for non-life threatening work-related injuries to University employees. These employees will be directed to Student Health Services for initial treatment and follow-up treatment after receiving proper authorization. For non-life threatening work-related injuries to University employees which occur off campus at a site where it is impracticable for the employee to be seen by Student Health Services, the employee should coordinate with the Office of Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) or the Third Party Administrator (TPA) to select a treating physician. Follow-up treatment may either be at Student Health Services, an appropriate specialist's office, or a physician deemed appropriate by Student Health Services as determined by the Risk Management Office or the Third Party Administrator.

5. Should Student Health Services be closed (weekends, nights, holidays, etc.), the injured employee will be directed to the Emergency Room of Carolinas Medical Center-University for evaluation and treatment by the hospital's Emergency Room physician.

6. Should an injured employee require transportation to Student Health Services or to Carolinas Medical Center-University, the appropriate supervisor or other responsible person will contact Campus Police for non-life threatening injuries.

7. The supervisor of the injured employee must notify RMI of the injury as soon as possible but no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the incident. After the initial notice, a written investigation will be submitted by the immediate supervisor to RMI within three (3) working days of the incident.

8. The University Workers' Compensation Administrator is responsible for the effectiveness of processing and monitoring the Workers' Compensation claims.

9. The State of North Carolina contracts with a Third Party Administrator (TPA) to handle the individual workers' compensation claims for the University. The TPA is responsible for the following: (1) accepting or denying liability for the State; (2) monitoring and processing the claims; and, (3) the payment of medical benefits and compensation in accordance with the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act.

10. Claims for Workers' Compensation must be submitted to the RMI for review and processing. RMI will coordinate all charges for medical services as well as claims for disability compensation through the TPA.

11. Employees and Supervisors must comply with the State of North Carolina's mandatory Return to Work Program. Specific guidelines are outlined in Personnel Information Memorandum #49, Workers' Compensation - Return to Work Program.