Workers’ Compensation

Last updated on February 14, 2024. Originally published June 6, 2023.

In the event of a life-threatening medical emergency, call 911.

After ensuring that an employee receives emergency medical care, AmeriSys, the State of Florida’s medical case management vendor, should also be notified of any work-related medical emergency as soon as possible by calling 1-800-455-2079.

If a non-life threatening on-the-job injury occurs:

  1. The injured employee and supervisor should immediately contact AmeriSys by calling 1-800-455-2079. Treatment for any non-life threatening work-related injury or illness must be authorized by AmeriSys prior to obtaining medical treatment.
  2. AmeriSys will determine if medical treatment is necessary and assist the employee and supervisor in completing the First Report of Injury or Illness Form. The supervisor and employee should be prepared to provide information such as description of the injury, job title, rate of pay, department, etc. The supervisor will be asked to leave the room while the AmeriSys intake person obtains the injured employee’s personal health history. AmeriSys will select an appropriate medical provider and arrange the initial appointment and any necessary follow up treatment from within the AmeriSys Workers’ Compensation Services Provider Directory.
  3. The injured employee must attend all scheduled medical appointments. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. The injured employee should maintain contact with his/her supervisor daily or as directed by the supervisor in order to keep the supervisor informed about the employee’s medical progress, ongoing treatment, and prognosis for recovery. Remember: Absence from work due to a work-related injury or illness will count toward an employee’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlement as set forth in the Act.
  4. The injured employee and supervisor should both read UF’s modified duty statement. When the injured employee’s medical provider releases the employee to work, regardless of the limitations/restrictions noted, the injured employee must be willing and available to return to the workplace.
  5. AmeriSys will provide the State Division of Risk Management and the UF Workers’ Compensation Coordinator with a copy of the completed First Report of Injury or Illness Form. After receiving notification from AmeriSys of a work-related injury, the University of Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Coordinator will contact the employee and supervisor to discuss any questions regarding Workers’ Compensation, including but not limited to wages, time reporting, usage of leave, follow up care and absences for appointments, and modified duty.
  6. Following all medical appointments, the employee must provide a copy of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Uniform Medical Treatment/Status Reporting Form (DWC-25) or duty status to the supervisor. The supervisor should send the DWC-25 or duty status to the UF Workers’ Compensation Coordinator, who will review the employee’s status and, if applicable, the medical provider’s restrictions to determine if the person is eligible for the Modified Duty Program. If the DWC-25 or duty status indicates that an employee is not permitted to work or if the restrictions cannot be accommodated by the department, the supervisor must contact the UF Workers’ Compensation Coordinator at 352-392-4940 immediately.
  7. The supervisor must complete the Accident Investigation Report (Report to EH&S » UF | EHS (ufl.edu)) and submit it to Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and the UF Workers’ Compensation Office within 24 hours of the accident. EH&S should be notified at 352-392-1591 of any workplace hazards immediately.

Are You Traveling for Work? Did You Know You’re Covered Under Workers’ Compensation?

University travelers are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits during periods of travel that are necessary to perform the official business of the University. To learn more visit the Finance & Accounting page on Workers’ Compensation for Injuries Incurred During Travel.

Occupational Exposure to Blood or Bodily Fluids

Time is critical, so call 352-265-2727 immediately! Use this number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to receive instructions regarding medical risk and appropriate care. Immediately after you have been evaluated/treated, contact AmeriSys by calling 1-800-455-2079.

Contact the UF Workers’ Compensation Office:

  • If you are unable to attend a scheduled medical appointment.
  • For assistance with recording your time and/or leave for doctor appointments, leaves of absence whether paid or unpaid, and/or when you are receiving workers’ compensation salary indemnification benefits.
  • If you have concerns related to your claim, the medical care you are receiving, or the benefits you are receiving.
  • If your work unit does not provide you with modified duty work. The UF Workers’ Compensation Coordinator will discuss the modified duty program and whether you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits.

Questions? Contact UF Workers’ Compensation at 352-392-4940 and/or via e-mail at workcomp@ufl.edu. You may also contact UF Workers’ Compensation by dialing 1-800-955-8771 (TDD).

Print the Workers’ Compensation policy

After Hours Work-Related Injuries

Workers’ compensation medical care coverage applies to all employees who are authorized to perform their assigned job duties – no matter what time of day or what day of the week it is. The intake unit at AmeriSys is in operation 24 hours a day / 7 days a week and should be contacted promptly to report after hours work-related injuries. AmeriSys will be able to direct the employee to a facility in their local geographic area.

Modified Duty Program

The University of Florida deeply appreciates and values the workplace efforts and contributions of its employees. As a reflection of that appreciation, the university created the Workers’ Compensation Modified Duty Program in 1994. The purpose of the program and its statement of policy are to ensure that each injured employee is provided the opportunity to remain an active and productive member of the university community. To that end, every effort is made to provide modified duty work to those employees who sustain a workers’ compensation compensable injury or illness.

The policy and provisions of the Modified Duty Program are administered by the University of Florida Workers’ Compensation Office (UFWC) and go into effect when an injured employee’s authorized medical care provider assigns physical restrictions to the employee (such as can’t climb stairs or limits the amount of weight they may lift) and then releases that employee to return to work. From that point forward, the employee must be available to return to work and perform duties identified by the department that are within the restrictions established by the authorized medical care provider. Responsibility for ensuring that temporary modified duty work is provided to injured employee rests with the appropriate Chair, Director, Dean or Vice President.

The Workers’ Compensation Modified Duty Program policy establishes the following obligations and limitations on departments and injured employees:

  • All departments must provide temporary modified duty work to injured employees. UFWC is available to assist administrators with clarifying, identifying, and assigning modified duty work in accordance with the written restrictions provided by the injured employee’s authorized medical care provider.
  • If providing modified duty work causes the injured employee’s work unit difficulty, the Chair, Director, Dean or Vice President may assign the employee to a different work unit. All costs, however, remain the responsibility of the injured employee’s primary work unit.
  • Injured employees must perform assigned modified duty work to the best of their ability within the restrictions established by their authorized medical care provider. Departments, however, are under no obligation to provide work to employees who fail to make a good faith effort to perform such work. Employees who refuse to cooperate with and/or participate in the program jeopardize their benefits and face discipline up to and including termination.
  • All modified duty work is of a temporary nature and may not exceed 90 consecutive calendar days from its initial commencement without the authorization of the Vice President for Human Resources. The obligation to provide modified duty work ends when employees reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), when up to 90 consecutive calendar days have passed, or when a department’s efforts to assist an employee prove to be counterproductive.

UF Human Resources is available to assist a department if an employee is unable to resume the essential functions of his/her regular job once MMI is assigned, at the conclusion of the modified duty work assignment, or when a department’s efforts to assist an employee prove to be counterproductive.

Remember: Absence from work due to a work-related injury or illness will count toward an injured employee’s Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitlement as set forth in the Act. Paid family leave under the University of Florida’s Paid Family Leave Policy is not available for use to cover time away from work due to an employee’s work-related injury.

Print the Modified Duty policy