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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 webpage 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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