Jackson State University pays the entire amount of the workers’ compensation insurance premium that provides benefits to employees who experience injury or illness in connection with their employment. Eligibility automatically begins on the first day of employment. The University maintains standard worker’s compensation insurance coverage in accordance with Mississippi state laws, which, in general, prescribe the amounts of indemnity payable for the degrees of disability, temporary or permanent, and for death if the injury or disability occurs on the job. These laws also provide for medical expenses, including doctor’s visitation, treatment, surgery, drugs, hospitalization, and weekly compensation for the period of disability.
Any injury or illness which is work related should be reported as soon as possible to your supervisor and to the University’s Risk Manager so that appropriate medical treatment can be arranged and a report of the injury can be sent to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Timely reporting also ensures that any wage loss benefits that are due will be paid without undue delay.
For injuries or illnesses, the benefits provided may include payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses, as well as partial compensation for wages lost because of the injury or illness. The wage loss benefits are generally payable in addition to any accrued leave, which the employee may be able to use.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits are payable at the rate of two-thirds (2/3) of your average weekly wage, not to exceed a weekly maximum set by law.
State law prevents an employee from receiving in excess of his or her pre-injury wages by virtue of any combination of workers compensation and personal or sick leave benefits. For example, if the indemnity benefit under workers compensation pays two-thirds of an employee’s average weekly wage to the employee, then the maximum leave benefit—if a leave balance is available—cannot exceed the value of one-third of the employee’s average weekly wage. The average weekly wage is calculated based upon the 52 weeks preceding the date of injury, and the purpose of the law is to prevent any employee from receiving more than 100 percent of his wages by virtue of multiple benefits following an injury.
Note: The first day of absence will be deducted from the employees’ personal leave and the remaining from sick leave. If the employee does not have any major medical leave time available, but has personal leave available, the employee may use their personal leave. Leave accrued while on Workers’ Compensation leave may not be used until after the employee has returned to work.
For assistance in the event of injury, or for questions concerning Workers’ Compensation, you may contact the Division of Human Resources.
How Will Other Benefits be affected by Workers’ Compensation?
- Employees will continue to contribute to PERS and ORP retirement plans. The employee and employer will contribute the same percentage of the gross salary to the retirement plans as is applicable to all employees.
- The state health and state life insurance will continue to be paid by the state.
- In the event the employee does not have major medical leave and personal leave time available, it will be the employee’s responsibility to pay for their optional benefits. If the employee does not pay premiums, their benefits will cancel.