Temple University provides Workers’ Compensation Insurance coverage to employees as defined by the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act. Faculty, staff, student workers, work-study students and recognized volunteers are considered employees for purposes of workers' compensation coverage. This program provides medical and/or wage loss benefits to employees who suffer an injury or illness in the course and scope of their employment. Employees are required to report all work-related accidents and illnesses immediately to their supervisor, even if they do not require medical treatment.
Workers' Compensation Policy
All employees and supervisors must promptly and properly report workers’ compensation incidents, and employees must receive appropriate medical treatment for work-related injuries and/or illnesses.
Panel of Healthcare Providers
Refers to the posted list of healthcare providers designated by Temple University to be utilized by injured and/or ill employees during the first 90 days of medical care, if needed. Temple University Workers' Compensation Panel of Healthcare Providers.
Medical Treatment For Work Injury and/or Illness
The First 90 Days of Treatment
During the first 90 days of treatment, employees MUST be provided medical treatment by a panel healthcare provider. Employees seeking treatment from a nonpanel healthcare provider during the first 90 days will jeopardize reimbursement by Temple University. If, during the 90-day period, an employee wishes to change healthcare providers, they may do so provided the visit is to another panel healthcare provider.
After 90 Days of Treatment
After the first 90-day period of treatment, an employee may choose to
- continue treatment from the posted physician or specialist to whom the employee was referred, or
- seek treatment from another duly licensed healthcare provider, provided that the employee notifies the claims administrator within five (5) days of the first visit to the nonpanel healthcare provider. Contact the claims administrator at 215-926-2272.
- continue treatment until discharged by the healthcare provider.
What to Do if You Are Injured at Work
1. Report the injury and/or illness, regardless of how minor, to your supervisor at the time of the incident. | 6. Send a copy of the Workers’ Compensation Incident Report and Rights and Responsibilities Forms to the Absence Management Department via fax 215-926-2274, or email workcomp@temple.edu. |
2. If you need emergency treatment, call or have someone else call Campus Safety at 215-204-1234. If you are off campus, call 911. Or, go directly to Temple Hospital’s Emergency Room or the nearest emergency room for treatment. For follow-up treatment, follow instruction step 6. | 7. For nonemergency care, seek treatment from one of the healthcare providers listed on our panel. You are required to treat with the university’s healthcare providers for the first 90 days of care. |
3. Complete your portion of a Workers’ Compensation Incident Report Form. You can get the form from your supervisor, Employee Health Services, Occupational Health Services or by reaching out to the Absence Management Department. | 8. Incidents involving a work-related fatality, a hospitalization, an amputation or the loss of an eye must be reported immediately to Temple University’s Department of Environmental Health and Radiation Safety at 215-707-2520 or ehrs@temple.edu. |
4. Present the completed Workers’ Compensation Incident Report Form to your supervisor. | 9. Continue treatment until discharged by the healthcare provider. |
5. Have your supervisor review the Rights and Responsibilities Form with you. Then sign it in the appropriate space. | 10. Contact the Workers’ Compensation Office at 215-926-2282 or at workcomp@temple.edu if you have any questions. |
Employees certified as unable to return to work and/or with an indefinite return-to-
work date must remain in contact with their supervisor and the claims
administrator at 215-926-2272.
Other Provisions of the Workers' Compensation Act
Temple University compensates any employee who sustains a work-related injury and/or illness in accordance with the Workers’ Compensation Act. This payment is known as an “indemnity benefit” and is in addition to any medical benefits the injured worker may receive under the law. Indemnity benefits are not payable to an employee for the first seven calendar days, unless the disability equals or exceeds 14 calendar days.
During the first seven calendar days of absence due to a work-related injury or illness, the employee must use any sick days available, including sick bank days. If the work-related absence equals or exceeds 14 calendar days, and payment for the first seven calendar days of disability is made to an injured and/or ill employee under the Workers’ Compensation Act, the employee will be required to reimburse Temple University for those sick days paid to the employee. The sick days will be added back to the employee’s accrued sick leave. Medical payments are made directly to healthcare providers for services rendered with regard to an employee’s work related injury and/or illness.
While collecting workers’ compensation benefits, an employee accrues seniority but does not accrue sick or vacation time. Unless otherwise covered by a collective bargaining agreement, employment will be terminated for those employees who are absent for more than 12 months. The employee will continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits until such benefits are terminated in accordance with Pennsylvania law.
If an employee is covered under Temple University’s health insurance plans (medical, dental and other insurance), coverage will continue for up to six months of any workers’ compensation leave period provided that the employee continues to pay their share of the cost of such coverage. At the end of this period, the employee will receive notice of their right to continue health insurance coverage under COBRA. Employees covered under a union benefit plan should contact their union for information concerning the continuation of health benefits.
When an employee is on workers’ compensation-related leave, Temple University holds open the employee’s position for up to six (6) months (including any period covered by the FMLA). Employees who are medically cleared to return to work after six months of absence should notify the Human Resources Department. The employee will be reinstated to a comparable position if available. If no position is available, the employee will be treated in accordance with Temple University’s reduction-in-force (RIF) policy (Section 16.5) for purposes of determining eligibility for reinstatement.
Temple University requires employees to use Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) for all work-related absences or illnesses that also meet the FMLA criteria. FMLA provides up to 12 weeks of job protection and, to be eligible, employees must have worked at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the last year.
Employees who meet the criteria for FMLA will be contacted by the Absence Management Department with regard to this program.
Temple University will make every effort to place employees who are released to return to work, with or without medical restrictions, in an open position for which the employee is otherwise qualified. Temple University reserves the right to assign employees with work restrictions to light duty assignments.
As soon as an employee is medically cleared to return to work, with or without restrictions, the employee must present their release to the Absence Management Department. Absence Management will then review appropriate and available open positions throughout Temple University for a period of no less than 30 days and notify the employee in writing of job availability.
Contact Us
For questions regarding workers’ compensation, call 215-926-2282 or email [click-for-email].