Workers' Compensation
You may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits if you are injured or become ill due to your employment with SMCCCD. Workers' compensation covers most workrelated physical or mental injuries and illnesses. An injury or illness can be caused by one event (such as hurting your back in a fall) or by repeated exposures such as hurting your wrist from doing the same motion over and over).
If an employee is injured on the job, the employee may be entitled to worker’s compensation of total temporary disability that requires an employee to be off work per medical verification.
- Total Temporary Disability is usually two-thirds of your prior earnings before the injury occurred. The state regulates the minimum and maximum benefits allowed for total temporary disability.
- Total Temporary Disability is tax-free.
- An employee is provided with 60 days of worker’s comp regardless of the total temporary disability benefit amount. This benefit is not accumulated.
- After the first 60 days while an employee receives total temporary disability, an employee will be allowed to use sick leave, vacation time or any allowable paid leave accrual to receive a full salary. The District will continue to provide normal salary throughout the worker’s compensation leave until the employees accrued paid leave exhausts and while the employee receives total temporary disability of worker’s comp benefits.
See the Workers' Compensation Notice for more information.
Process:
If the injured employee has chosen not to file a Workers Comp Claim, the Injury/Incident must still be reported using the links below.
- Supervisor reports the incident via Injury/Incident Supervisor Investigation Report.
- Employee reports the incident via Injury/Incident Employee Report.
- Employee will receive an email that includes a pdf attachment of the reported injury/incident.
- Review the document and Sign.
- Submit the signed document to HR via dropbox and include any applicable documentation such as doctor's notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I report an injury?
Immediately, within 24 hours.
Why should an injury be reported immediately?
If you delay in reporting an injury, it may also delay all eligible benefits that you are entitled to under workers compensation.
How can my personal physician qualify to be my own personal pre-designated physician
for work related injuries?
- Your personal physician must agree to treat you for work related injuries by completing the pre-designated personal physician form.
- Must have previously directed your medical treatment and retain your medical history and records
- Must follow workers compensation guidelines
When do I need to pre-designate my personal physician?
Anytime prior to an injury/illness occurring.
I do not have a pre-designated personal physician, where do I go for medical treatment?
Employees can seek medical treatment with one of our District medical panel facilities .
My supervisor is on vacation. Who else can I report my work injury too?
- An administrator
- Human Resources – Jessica Esclamado, esclamadodavidj@smccd.edu, (650) 358-6805
How do I report my workplace injury/illness?
Complete the online Employee Injury Incident Report form https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6b9480f7789741e0a6e68f608380978a
I don’t need medical treatment just first aid. Where do I go?
Campus Health Center.
I chose not to complete a workers compensation claim. Now I am aching. What do I
do?
Complete the online Employee Injury Incident Report form https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/6b9480f7789741e0a6e68f608380978a
I completed workers compensation forms and never received medical treatment. I am
in pain again after some weeks since the injury occurred. What do I do?
Contact Human Resources – Jessica Esclamado, esclamadodavidj@smccd.edu, (650) 358-6805
I feel it is expensive to report a workers compensation injury.
In the long run, it is more costly not to report an injury/illness because you may end up needing medical treatment in the future. Recovery time may be pro-long and medical expense will be more costly. You may also lose workers’ compensation benefits that you may be eligible for if you report a claim late.
Links to More Information:
Injury/Incident Reporting Process
Workers Comp Predesignation Personal Physican Form
Questions
Contact Human Resources Representative:
Jessica Esclamado
(650) 358-6805
esclamadodavidj@smccd.edu