Workers’ Compensation

The College carries workers’ compensation insurance to reimburse medical expenses and to continue wages in the event of illness or injury incurred in the course of employment.

If an employee is injured at work, they must immediately:

• Notify their supervisor(s).
• Complete the Employee Accident Report: Within 24 hours of the accident, the employee and supervisor are expected to fill out the form and forward the form to Human Resources. All forms need to be e-mailed to hr@carleton.edu

Additional Resources:

• Minnesota workers’ compensation system employee information sheet

A student worker who has a work-related accident must fill out the Student Employee Illness/Injury Report.

1. Forwarding to HR the physician’s “Workability” form.
2. Notify Human Resources and the Workers’ Comp Adjuster of any loss time so that they can process eligible loss time.

Carleton has the philosophy that it is best for the employee to return to work as soon as possible after a work-related injury. The college will make every effort to work with restrictions that are assigned by the physician. At times it is necessary for an employee to be off of work during the healing process, and Carleton will abide by the Workers’ Comp regulations regarding the payment of wages.

The State of Minnesota has a three-day period in which the employee does not receive income through Workers’ Compensation. For these first three days following an injury, an employee will use their accrued sick, vacation or floating holidays. If an employee is unable to return to work after three days, the Workers’ Compensation agent will issue a check to the employee for all authorized continued loss time.

Time off needed for doctor appointments and therapy appointments should be made outside of the employee’s work schedule, if at all possible. If this isn’t possible, then absent accruals need to be used (sick, vacation, then floating holiday hours). FMLA leave will apply, if applicable, to loss time due to workers’ compensation. With an approved medical leave, college contributions to benefits will continue to be in effect for up to a six month period while an employee is losing time due to a Workers’ Compensation injury.

If the injury is a result of your job and happened during work hours, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. SFM, who administers Carleton’s workers’ compensation claims, will work with you along with Kirsten Budin in HR to answer your questions and help you receive the benefits you’re entitled to.

Questions you may have:

How do I get my prescriptions?

SFM has contracted with a prescription service, myMatrixx. SFM will send you a prescription card to give to the pharmacy to indicate that this is a workers’ compensation claim and it should not submitted to your own health or medical insurance. Some initial fills, such as opioids, need approval before filled.

What if I receive a bill?

If you do receive a bill, turn it in to Human Resources or send it to your SFM claims representative. Inform your physician that your injury is work comp and all bills/file notes should be sent to this address: SFM

• Insurer: SFM
• P.O. Box 9416 Minneapolis, MN 55440
• SFM claim rep: Diane Gut Email: diane.gut@sfmic.com
• Phone: 952-838-4381, fax 952-838-2000

What if I can’t do my job?

Your supervisor will work with you to accommodate, to the best of our ability, the restrictions written by your health care provider. An attempt will be made to identify some transitional jobs within your medical restrictions until you are able to return to your original job. If you have ongoing problems, Carleton may assign a nurse case manager to work with you, your physician and others. If you are unable to return to your pre-injury position or if your recovery is prolonged, a qualified rehabilitation consultant (QRC) will be assigned to work with you with the intent to get you back to work.

Tips to help you through this smoothly

• Make sure your SFM claims representative has your current address and phone number.
• Stay in touch with your supervisor, Human Resources and your SFM claims representative. Keep them updated on doctor visits and changes in your condition.
• Get updated work restrictions (Work Ability Form) from your physician at each medical appointment. Give them to your supervisor – your supervisor will provide a copy to HR.
• Try to schedule your medical appointments before or after work hours. Physician appointments and therapy appointments are not paid for by SFM, any time missed from work for these appointments will be paid by using your sick, vacation or floating holiday accruals.
• Sick, vacation and floating holiday hours are not accrued on any unpaid loss time including loss time for workers’ compensation.

Carleton’s Work Comp resources in Human Resources:

• Kirsten Budin 507-222-4831
• Andrea Zunkel 507-222-5989
• email: hr@carleton.edu

Workers Compensation Benefits:

The following lists of benefits compensate you for your lost wages as well as pay medical and rehabilitation bills. Our goal is to help you recover.

• Paying for treatment: Medical tests, prescriptions, supplies, mileage – whatever is reasonable and necessary to treat your work injury is covered. State laws guide the extent of treatment and the amount of the fee.
• Compensating for lost wages: In order for any lost wages to be paid through work comp, the time missed from work must be authorized by the treating medical provider. If you are unable to report to work seek medical attention that same day.
• • Temporarily unable to work at all: If you are temporarily unable to work at all you may be eligible for what’s called temporary total disability (TTD) benefits. You are paid two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage and will receive it at the same interval as Carleton issues paychecks. TTD benefits never go more than 130 weeks.
  • Temporarily unable to work at full wage: If you are temporarily unable to work earning your pre-injury wage, you may be eligible for temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. Typically, this is if you are not fully recovered but able to work within medical restrictions, so you are working at a modified or part-time position until you can return to your original job. TPD benefits never go more than 225 weeks.
  • Lasting physical impairment: An employee who has sustained a permanent loss of function because of a work injury may be eligible for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits. A physician gives the employee a disability rating when they have reached the point after which no more significant medical recovery is expected (MMI). State Rules assign each rating a specific dollar value, which is the PPD benefit paid to compensate the employee for the loss of function.
• Wage-loss benefits are subject to two limits:
  • Three-day waiting period Three calendar days must pass before an injured employee is eligible for wage loss benefits. That means benefits begin four days after any disability resulting in lost time. However, if an employee is authorized off work by his physician for 10 or more days, benefits begin from the first day of lost time. Benefits are 2/3 of your pre-injury wage.
  • Minimums and maximums Weekly wage loss benefits are subject to minimums and maximums established by state law.

Please note benefits indicated above are subject to change

Fraud is when a person deliberately misrepresents or fails to disclose information about an important fact to receive benefits to which he or she is not entitled. Carleton College has zero tolerance for fraud and will actively pursue an offender.