Workers' Compensation
Workers’ Compensation provides income protection and medical treatment benefits in compliance with New York law while you are disabled from a work related injury, illness or disease.
- Eligibility
- Benefit Waiting Period
- Benefits
- Working Elsewhere
- Returning to Work
- Supportive Policies
- Administration of Workers' Compensation
- Brochure
Eligibility
All Cornell employees are eligible.
Benefit Waiting Period
Medical benefits are paid from the date of injury. According to New York
State law, lost wage benefits are paid after the first 5 days of absence
from work due the injury or illness. The first 5 lost work days can be
counted as sick time. However, according to New York law, if the lost
work days exceed 14 calendar days, then the entire time lost from work
is covered by Workers’ Compensation benefits, and the sick time used
is restored to the employee.
- Cornell regular full-time and regular part-time employees can receive
up to 13 weeks of full pay while they are temporarily totally disabled
from a work related injury. This requires continuing medical certification.
If you are still unable to work after 13 weeks, your lost wage benefits are reduced to the benefits as required by law (see next bullet in this section).
- Other Cornell employees receive the benefits that are required under the New York Workers’ Compensation law. This is a maximum of two-thirds wages tax free, to a weekly maximum payment of $500. Again, this also requires continuing medical certification of temporary total disability.
- Medical care is paid as per New York law. However, any non-emergency medical procedures or tests that will cost more than $1,000 are required by law to have either the State Insurance Fund or Cornell review and approve it first.
Working Elsewhere
If you are an employee that qualifies for the 13 weeks of full wages while
out of work, you cannot work for another employer for wages during this
period, unless you receive the express written approval from Cornell.
Returning To Work
To return to work after a Workers’ Compensation injury or illness,
you will need to provide a medical certification that you are eligible
to return to full time duty. This certification should be presented to
your department either before you return, or on the day you return. Cornell
may seek an independent medical verification that you are able to return
to full time duty.
Supportive Policies
- Your own job is held for you for up to 6 months from the date of injury. A medical certification is required to return to work.
- Part-time and light duty work may be available if you obtain medical certification of your ability to do the work, and your department and supervisor agree.
Administration of Workers’ Compensation
Benefits begin when three Workers’ Compensation criteria are met:
- An accident, injury, illness or disease must be reported to Cornell. Use the Cornell Accident Reports to do this. Cornell requires that Accident Reports be completed within 24 hours of the time of injury or illness.
- Medical certification of injury, illness or disease must be presented to Cornell and the NY Workers' Compensation Board.
- A causal relationship between the injury, illness or disease and your job must be made and documented, and it must have occurred in and of the course of your employment at Cornell.
If either of these conditions are not present, Cornell may not accept the injury, illness or disease as falling under the Cornell Workers’ Compensation benefit program. If Cornell decides to not accept it under Workers’ Compensation (called a controverted claim), you are placed on Short Term Disability benefits until the Workers’ Compensation claim is decided by the NY Workers' Compensation Board.