Karen Lane
Health Care Benefits Coordinator
Local 827 IBEW
800-870-6354
570-424-5110 (Fax)
karen.s.lane@verizon.com

April 2009-

 

In September I attended a WC certification program with several other Local reps. The compensation process and particulars about NJ comp laws were covered. This is a continuing education program. Much remains the same with WC issues though. Basics of Workers Comp-

-Report any work place injury or illness as soon as it happens

-Tell the boss you need care. Vz is responsible for the direction of the care and who you see under NJ law. 

-DO NOT give your own insurance card to the ER or Concentra. Vz is responsible for the bill. Tell your boss that they have to provide Vz information for Sedgewick. They will know this if they reported the claim on the web under Workplace Compliance.

-Ask your boss for a copy of the incident report which will have your case number on it. They MUST provide this to you, upon request.

-See page 180 of your Union contract. This explains that all medical visits at the direction of the Company are considered worked time. This includes treatment and doctor visits. FMLA is not used for work time worker's comp doctor visits and treatment (i.e. physical therapy).

-Federal law DOES allow the Company to require the use of FMLA for absences due to a work place illness or injury that are not covered by our contract. What this means is that if you have a injury and go to Concentra on Wed afternoon (covered by page 180 of collective bargaining agreement), then the doctor tells you to stay home due to your injury for Thurs and Fri, you will need to get Concentra doctor to fill out FMLA for Thurs and Fri (include Sat and Sun even though they aren't scheduled) with a return to work on Monday. This will satisfy the more than three day requirement for FMLA