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Work Connections Overview

September 2021

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Work Connections Objectives

  • Maintain confidentiality of health issues/concerns
  • Provide a supportive and caring environment
  • Minimize impact of disability on employees’ personal and professional lives
  • Simplification - Provide a single point of contact
  • Administer Workers’ Compensation program
  • Identify and facilitate University benefits
  • Allow experienced people to continue working
  • Greater efficiencies for department
  • Identify and facilitate referrals for LTD benefits

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How does Work Connections help?

Clarify or explain treatment and/or plan:

  • Address concerns regarding medical care and identify options
  • Communication/involvement with Employee, Family, Supervisor
  • Direct communication with treating physician
  • Provide resources (FCE’s/OT)
  • Second opinions
  • Independent Medical Evaluations

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Confidentiality

  • Health information is confidential
  • Consistent with HIPAA guidelines
  • Released only in following circumstances:
    • With written authorization from employee
    • Strict need to know (i.e. health/safety, employment status decisions)
    • Comply with legal requirements

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Who can access services?

  • All faculty and non-student staff of the University of Michigan
  • Chronic disability
  • Work-Related: Required participation
  • Non Work-Related: Voluntary participation

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  • Many departments require participation
  • All LTD applicants mandatory

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Types of Cases

Workers’ Compensation

  • Employees must report all work-related injuries/illnesses as soon as possible
  • All work-related illnesses/injuries must be reported to WorkConnections immediately (within 24 hours)
  • Medical Treatment: Occupational Health Services/ER. If emergency response is needed, call 911
  • If possible the supervisor should fill out the injury/illness report before sending the employee to Occupational Health Services/ER

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Types of Cases

Non-Occupational Disability

Lost Time Cases

  • Greater than 10 days of disability

Intermittent

  • Non-contiguous absences that total in excess of 10 working days.

FMLA Administration

  • Upon request of department/unit

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Return to Work

  • RTW support: accommodations, job analysis, ergonomic consultation, etc. and other services as necessary
  • Provide advance notice of return to work and restrictions if possible
  • Coordinate the RTW process with employee/HR/supervisor if needed
  • Coordinate meetings with other stakeholders (supervisor, HR, OIE, etc.) if there are issues or concerns surrounding a successful return to work.
  • Coordinate meetings with supervisors and employees to discuss RTW expectations and address any ongoing concerns
  • Refer cases to the Return With Accommodations Committee (RAC)

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What doesn’t Work Connections do?

  • Bear responsibility for obtaining medical documentation
  • Make decisions regarding sick time payment
  • Make employment decisions
  • Provide guidance on discipline or other employment-related/performance issues
  • Substitute for supervisory communication

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Work Connections

To report an Injury or Illness

  • Complete the Illness and Injury Report form:

www.workconnections.umich.edu

    • Workers’ Compensation: Required for ALL injuries/illnesses
    • Non-Occupational: Complete the upper sections
  • Reports may be submitted via website

http://www.workconnections.umich.edu/

  • Reports may be submitted via campus mail

3050 Wolverine Tower

3000 S. State Street

Box 4816

  • Fax report to WorkConnections at 734-936-1913