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An employer is responsible for providing claim forms to an injured employee within 24 hours of receiving notice of an injury. As long as the injury occurs while performing a job-related function even if not on employer premises at the time of injury, it is covered under workers’ compensation. Employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance depending on the size of a company, employee status (employee vs. contractor), and state laws. Some companies are self-insured while others choose commercial insurance companies. Either way, the employee never pays fees for an injury. Once a claim form has been filed with the insurance carrier (if using a commercial insurance company), they will then determine to accept the claim. Once the claim is accepted, the insurance carrier will then approve and subsequently assign it to an adjuster. The adjuster will serve as the liaison between your company and the insurance carrier. The adjuster is responsible for addressing any concerns that you or your employee may have regarding injury treatment options as well as approving procedures that may be needed to facilitate recovery. There will be a list of approved providers that your employee may choose to see for injury care. Keeping an open line of communication with your adjuster is strongly recommended so that there are no delays in treatment. Delays in treatment equal slowed recovery, increased loss in wages and time, reduced productivity, and increased employee and employer stress.

Your insurance adjuster can assist with a change in providers or facilities. In most cases, however, insurance carriers will only allow for one change for the duration of injury treatment. This change, however, does not include if the primary injury provider decides to refer your employee to a specialist for continued care as this is allowed.

It depends on the type of injury. Some injuries allow for an employee to continue full work duties as they do not impede the employee’s ability to perform. Other injuries, however, may require modified work duties. If your company allows for modified work duties, this allows your employee to continue to receive wages and you to benefit from some productivity. Companies that are not able to provide modified work duties may experience employee lost wages and time, reduced productivity, decreased morale, and increased employer costs associated with overtime due to staff coverage during employee absence.