Article 24
Injury Compensation

Section 1. Liaison

To ensure that workers' compensation claims are properly processed, the Department has appointed Agency Workers' Compensation Coordinators to provide guidance and assistance, as needed, to supervisors and employees on the procedures for filing workers' compensation claims and employees' and supervisors' rights and responsibilities concerning such claims. The Department and/or individual Agencies will periodically publish the names, locations, and phone numbers of the Agency Workers' Compensation Coordinators. Employees and Union stewards acting as the employees' designated representatives in accordance with Section 2.b. of this Article, may also obtain the name of their Workers' Compensation Agency Coordinator from their servicing Human Resources Office.

Section 2. Counseling

a. When an employee claims that an injury or illness is work-related, appropriate information and counseling will be provided by Management.
b. If the employee designates a Union steward as his/her representative, Management will notify the steward of the claimant's status.

Section 3. Leave Buy-Back

In accordance with appropriate regulations concerning the Federal Employees Compensation Act, 5 U.S.C. 8100, the Department will whenever practicable provide for employees to buy back annual or sick leave used in lieu of injury compensation.