The University will pay for medical treatment and will pay you for time lost because of the injury. The University will also make every effort to return you to work as quickly as possible, either to your regular job or to duties defined by your physical capabilities during rehabilitation. The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act states that TTD payments shall not be made for the employee's first three days off work unless the employee is off ten or more days, however Northwestern University does pay full-time employees for the first three days off. Personal floating holidays, sick time, and vacation do not accrue while an employee is on temporary total disability. Because the Payroll Division of Human Resources does not issue TTD checks, deductions for benefits such as health and dental insurance, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, credit union, union dues, and the retirement plan are not made.
Benefits do accrue normally for persons on modified duty.
All accidents and injuries, even if no medical attention is required, must be reported to your supervisor. By failing to report an accident you jeopardize your workers' compensation benefits, especially in the event symptoms do not appear for an extended period of time. This is a rather complicated legal area that frequently changes with new court rulings. All Northwestern cases are carefully reviewed and written notification is made to employees when the case is deemed non-compensable. Claim denials can be appealed to the Director of Risk Management.