HR-409 Work-Incurred Injury or Illness

Summary

Absences due to a work-incurred injury or illness are addressed, in compliance with the laws of the State of Missouri. All employees are eligible for this program unless otherwise specified.

Occurrence

On the day of accident or of first medical attention, an employee will be excused from work without loss of pay, vacation or sick leave for the period of time required to obtain necessary medical attention. The remainder of the day will be excused without loss of pay, vacation or sick leave if the attending physician recommends that the employee not return to duty. Necessary travel time is considered as time required to obtain medical attention.

If the employee is able to return to work after the accident or first medical attention, he/she will be excused from work without loss of pay, vacation or sick leave for the period of time required to obtain medical attention related to the injury or illness. If he/she is unable to return to work, a Regular administrative, service and support staff will be granted a leave of absence without pay beginning the day after the injury from the department until able to return to work or for a maximum period of one (1) year; provided, however, the employee may elect to use accumulated vacation and sick leave subject to the limits described below. An employee will be excused from work without loss of pay, vacation or sick leave for the purpose of attending the Workers' Compensation conference or hearing. An employee may be required to provide satisfactory proof of medical attention.

Vacation and Sick Leave

During the three (3)-day waiting period referenced in HR 307, a Regular administrative, service and support staff may charge any absence to accumulated vacation, sick leave, or personal days. After the three (3)-day waiting period, Regular administrative, service and support staff may elect to use up to one day of vacation or personal day for each day of absence, or sick leave in an amount equal to the portion of the employee's total compensation which is not paid by Workers' Compensation benefits; however, in no case can the combination of sick leave and Workers' Compensation benefits exceed the employee's base pay.

Holiday

For employees in pay status only, holiday pay in an amount equal to the portion of the employee's total compensation which is not paid by Workers' Compensation benefits should be paid as holiday pay. However, in no case should the combination of holiday pay and Workers' Compensation benefits exceed the employee's base pay.

Benefits

A Regular administrative, service and support staff who is unable to return to work and who has been granted a leave of absence will continue to accumulate seniority and retirement credit and will continue to accrue vacation, personal days, and sick leave for a period not to exceed one (1) year. All time spent on a Workers' Compensation leave of absence will be counted with previous University experience in calculating compensation (longevity). Vacation, personal days, and sick leave accruals will be available to the employee only after returning to work.

Employee contributions to the UM Retirement, Disability and Death Benefit Plan will not be required for periods for which no salary is paid. Employee contributions will, however, be required for periods that are recognized as service credit under the plan for which partial or full salary is paid.

Reporting

Work Incurred Injury or Illness must be recorded in the University's central payroll system as part of the regular payroll processing cycle. A Report of Injury (Form UMWC-1) must be filed. After an employee has returned to work following a work-incurred injury or illness, any subsequent absences due to the same injury or illness for which the employee does not receive regular pay must be reported in writing to the Workers' Compensation Coordinator (Risk & Insurance Management for UM System employees).