Personnel
Workers' Compensation (6.41)
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to conform with applicable state
law by providing benefit to employees who are injured in jobrelated
incidents.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of Tennessee State University to provide
benefits to employees who are injured as the result of an accident
which occurs in the course of employment.
PROCEDURE
Whenever an employee sustains an injury as the result of a
jobrelated accident, the employees immediate supervisor
should be informed. As soon as possible after an accident occurs,
the employee should complete a Accident Report Form. This form
may be obtained from the Personnel Office or from the immediate
supervisor.
1. Payment of Medical Expenses The state, as your employer,
is responsible for payment of any reasonable medical expenses
you incur in seeking medical treatment for your compensable injury.
2. Payment of Temporary Disability Benefits If your doctor,
in the course of treating your compensable injury, determines
you should not return to work, you are eligible for temporary
disability benefits. These benefits, also called lost time pay,
are intended to replace part of the income you may lose as a result
of your compensable injury. To receive temporary disability benefits,
you must be on a leave without pay status during the time you
wish to receive the temporary disability benefits. You may choose
to use your accumulated sick and annual leave instead of or prior
to applying for temporary disability benefits since your temporary
disability benefits will be less than the amount you would receive
if you use your sick or annual leave. This is choice to be made
by the employee.
To qualify for temporary disability benefits, you must be out
of work due to your compensable injury for seven days. Your temporary
disability would then begin to accrue on the eighth day of disability.
If you are out of work for 14 days or more, then the state will
provide temporary disability benefits for the full period of your
temporary disability.
The amount of temporary disability benefits you receive is equal
to 66 and 2/3 percent of your average weekly salary at the time
your accident occurred.
3. Payment of Permanent Disability Benefits If your compensable
injury results in a permanent reduction in your ability to perform
work for which you are suited by education, age and training,
then you may be eligible for permanent disability benefits. The
state's decision on whether to offer you a permanent disability
benefit will be reached after reviewing the recommendations of
your treating physician. In addition, the state may require you
to be examined by an independent physician whose recommendations
will also be considered. The benefit payable, if any, is based
upon the degree to which you are permanently disabled. The degree
of your disability (which eventually determines the amount of
your disability benefit) is subject to negotiation and agreement
between you and the state.
4. Payment of Death Benefits If your compensable injury
results in your death, the workers' compensation law specifies
that compensation will be paid to your surviving dependents. The
amount of this death benefit differs depending upon who your surviving
dependents are. As with both the temporary and permanent disability
benefits, the maximum benefit payable is based on the date the
compensable injury occurred. Death benefits are payable monthly
to your surviving spouse until the amount due has been paid in
full; however, if your spouse remarries, your spouse's benefit
ceases to be paid.
A benefit is also payable to any surviving dependents until each
dependent reaches eighteen years of age (or twentytwo years
of age if enrolled in a recognized educational institution), regardless
of whether your spouse remarries. If you have no surviving dependents,
your estate is eligible for a payment of $10,000 plus reimbursement
of up to $3,000 for funeral and burial expenses actually incurred.
Proof of funeral and burial expenses must be submitted for this
reimbursement
REFERENCE
Tennessee Laws