Workman's Compensation

Manchester College provides for employees injured by accident or occupational disease, arising out of and in the course of their employment, all necessary medical treatment for such injury and disease. The College has the responsibility to, and does, comply with the laws and rules of the Worker’s Compensation Board of Indiana.  Employees have certain responsibilities as well. Employees not complying with the following specific guidelines can jeopardize their right to receive benefits under the Indiana Worker’s Compensation Law.

Notice and Choice of Physician

ALL INJURIES/ILLNESSES, no matter how small, must be reported immediately to the supervisor of the injured employee and to the director of health services (college nurse). An accident report will be completed in full by the nurse. If the nurse is not on duty at the time of the accident, then a security officer should be contacted.  He/she will contact the appropriate substitute for the nurse and the substitute will complete the Accident Report. The original Accident Report will be submitted to the Office of Human Resources within 24 hours of the accident or the next business day. Copies will be sent to the immediate supervisor and to the director of safety and security. Good insurance service is not possible without adequate notice of claims and without the cooperation of the employee.

When an accident occurs, the supervisor on duty or the security officer on duty should contact the nurse and refer the injured employee to the nurse for medical evaluation/treatment. The nurse will evaluate the person’s injuries and provide any immediate medical treatment necessary. If the nurse determines additional medical treatment is necessary, he/she will refer the injured employee to the Manchester Clinic for minor medical needs or to Whitley Memorial Hospital for complex medical needs. He/she will refer the injured employee to Whitley Memorial Hospital for minor medical needs when the Manchester Clinic is closed.

Depending upon circumstances, follow-up referrals will be based upon medical need, complexity and the proximity of the injured employee’s place of residence to the medical provider. Approved providers for follow-up treatment include the Manchester Clinic, Whitley Memorial Hospital, Huntington Memorial Hospital and Parkview Corporate Health Services. The injured employee should contact the director of health services (college nurse) for questions or clarification of diagnosis or treatment. Transportation costs to and from medical treatment will be reimbursed by worker’s compensation insurance. 

The law places responsibility for furnishing the physician and any other medical care on the employer. Some emergency treatment physicians or providers are not familiar with the employer’s right and duty to designate the treating physician or other medical provider, and therefore, may advise employees to see their family physician or to be off work. If a Manchester College employee goes to his/her family physician or any other physician or medical provider on his/her own or upon the suggestion or direction of an emergency treatment physician or provider and does not follow the procedures outlined here, all expenses incurred may be the employee’s responsibility and not the responsibility of Manchester College.

Treatment that is not authorized by Manchester College for any work related injury or occupational disease is the responsibility of the employee and not that of the College. Employees have the right to see a physician or medical provider of their choice in addition to those provided by the College, at their own expense. If an employee refuses to accept the medical treatment provided by Manchester College, compensation benefits will be suspended.

Prescriptions

Injured employees who receive medical treatment at Whitley Memorial Hospital will be referred to a pharmacy in Columbia City or will receive medication directly from the hospital, and the prescription charge will be included on the hospital bill. Injured employees who receive medical treatment at the Manchester Clinic should have their prescription filled and charged at CVS Pharmacy in North Manchester. Employees should not use their prescription card from the group health insurance plan.

Time Off Work Due to a Worker’s Compensation Injury/Illness

In order for time off to be excused due to an injury occurring at work, the restrictions and/or disability must be verified in writing by the treating physician. Restrictions on work activity must also be in writing from the treating physician. The Office of Human Resources should be informed immediately if an employee will be off work due to a work related injury or illness.

When an employee is injured while working and must leave work due to the seriousness of the injury, the employee will be paid for hours missed on that day, according to their scheduled hours up to a maximum of eight hours. The process for compensation for any additional time off following the first day of injury is as follows:

1. The employee may choose to use available vacation, sick or personal time, or choose unpaid time for the six days following the accident. Non-exempt staff must indicate this choice on their timecards. Exempt staff and faculty must indicate this choice on the benefit card or in a written memo to the Office of Human Resources.
2. Worker’s Compensation is at sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee’s wages begins the eighth day following the accident. In addition, employee sick time, if available, is coordinated with worker’s compensation to total one hundred percent (100%) of wages.
3. If an employee remains off work at least 21 days following the work related injury, worker’s compensation will provide sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the employee’s wages for the first seven days of the employee’s absence due to this injury. The sick, vacation or personal time taken for the six days following the accident will be reduced by the amount of benefits available from worker’s compensation and the accumulated hours of benefit time will be adjusted accordingly.

Statements to Insurance Company

All written, recorded or oral statements provided by any employee must be approved by and/or witnessed by either the vice president of human resources or the human resources administrator.

Updated 9/10/07