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The
Employer-at-Injury Program encourages the early return to work of
injured workers. It provides incentives to employers that return
their injured workers who have open claims to transitional work.
Employer use of the Employer-at-Injury Program is voluntary. The
insurer responsible for the worker’s claim administers the
program and requests reimbursement for program costs from the Workers’
Compensation Division. Reimbursed program costs don’t increase
employers’ insurance costs. Program reimbursements include
wage subsidy, worksite modification, and certain purchases.
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Wage
subsidy
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Fifty
percent of a worker’s gross wages for a maximum of 66 work
days. Reimbursement is based on the return-to-work wage.
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Worksite
modification
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The
rental, purchase, or modifi-cation of equipment up to a maximum of
$2,500 to allow the worker to perform early return-to-work job duties
within the injury-related limitations. |
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Employer-at-Injury
Program purchases
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Items
a worker needs to do the job. Purchases may include:
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Tuition, books, and fees for a course of instruction to update existing
skills or to meet the requirements of the job. Maximum: $1,000
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Tools and equipment mandatory for the job that are not already
owned by the worker. Maximum: $1,000
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Clothing required for the job that is not normally provided by the
employer and not already owned by the worker. Maximum: $400
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Worker
eligibility
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To
be eligible for Employer-at-Injury Program incentives, the worker
must meet the following criteria: |
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Have an accepted, compensable Oregon on-the-job injury or occupational
disease
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Not be released for regular work |
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Employer
eligibility
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To
be eligible for Employer-at-Injury Program incentives, the employer
must meet the following criteria: |
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Maintain Oregon workers’ compensation insurance coverage
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Be the employer at the time of the worker’s initial claim
or claim reopening
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Reemploy an eligible worker in early return-to-work while the
claim is open
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How
does an employer use the Employer-at-Injury Program?
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The
employer contacts the insurer responsible for the worker’s claim
to ask for help to meet program eligibility requirements and to obtain
program assistance. Employers may use program incentives only once
for each opening of the worker’s claim. The insurer will help
the employer: |
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Identify an early return-to-work position
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Obtain a qualifying medical release for work from the worker’s
medical service provider
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Make necessary purchases
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How
reimbursement works
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Within
one year after a worker’s participation in the Employer-at-Injury
Program ends, the employer submits all insurer-required documentation
to the insurer. The insurer requests a one-time reimbursement for
program costs from the Workers’ Compensation Division. To qualify
for reimbursement, the insurer must have the following on file: |
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Dated
copies of the worker’s work release(s)
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Documentation of the worker’s early return-to-work position
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A copy of the worker’s payroll records for the wage-subsidy
period
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Copies of receipts for any modifications or Employer-at-Injury
Program purchases
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Documentation of the worker’s injury-caused obstacles to
employment and how the modifications overcame these obstacles, if
applicable
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Rules
governing EAIP
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The
information on this Web page summarizes the Employer-at-Injury Program.
Oregon Administrative Rule
436-105 describes program requirements in further detail. To request
a copy of the rules or for additional information about the Employer-at-Injury
Program, employers and workers should contact their workers’
compensation insurer or the Workers’ Compensation Division at:
800-445-3948
503-947-7588 |
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For
further assistance
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The
Department of Consumer & Business Services has another program,
the Preferred Worker Program,
for Oregon employers and workers. The Preferred Worker Program encourages
reemployment of qualified Oregon injured workers. Preferred Workers
can offer valuable incentives to employers that hire them. For more
information, call 800-445-3948.
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Job
Match, an online resource, helps employers and Preferred Workers
find one another. The Workers’ Compensation Division offers free
employment-advertising space on its Web site to eligible employers
looking for Preferred Workers to fill job openings. |
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All
parties benefit when a worker returns to work as quickly as possible
after an on-the-job injury.
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