Workers’ Compensation, Injury, and Illness Policy and Procedure
WorkWhile is committed to a safe and healthy work environment and the prevention of work-related injuries or illness. WorkWhile complies with all state workers’ compensation laws that govern work-related injuries and illnesses. Safety is our highest priority. Incidents that impact employee health and safety must be promptly reported, investigated, and mitigated.
Purpose/Objective
WorkWhile provides workers’ compensation insurance benefits to all employees who experience an injury or illness that arises out of the course and scope of employment. Workers' compensation insurance provides six basic benefits: medical care, temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation, and death benefits. Entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits is controlled by applicable law and employees are required to immediately report all work-related accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
Eligibility
This policy applies to all employees who experience an injury or illness that arises out of the course and scope of employment.
Procedures
All work-related accidents, injuries or illnesses involving employees, even those that are not serious, must be immediately reported to their site supervisor. Employees who experience a work-related accident, illness or injury and the site supervisor will be required to complete the appropriate forms and cooperate with the company in complying with its recording, reporting and investigation obligations.
The company strives to bring employees back to work as soon as possible following a work-related accident, injury, or illness. Employees on a leave of absence, should stay in contact with WorkWhile.
Worker Guide for Workplace Injury
In the event a worker is injured at a work location while on a shift, the worker should report the injury to their site supervisor immediately or as soon as is practical.
Upon notifying your site supervisor of the injury, the worker should:
If the injury does not require immediate attention, you can report your claim in one of four ways:
Calling Nationwide's 24/7 Nurse Triage Line for non-life-threatening injuries at 1-855-777-7090
Via email at enewloss@nationwide.com
Via phone at 800-421-3535
Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy: 370138A-00
Click the help bottom and open the support chat in your WorkWhile app to report the injury.
Our support team will send you an electronic Workers’ Compensation Claim Packet (Employee) to complete. Pages 1-4.
Complete Workers’ Compensation Claim Packet within 24 hours from the incident.
Should you decide not to seek medical treatment, request the “Refusal of Medical Treatment Packet” from support and complete pages 1-2.
During the doctor’s office/hospital visit, notify them to send all bills to Nationwide.
What happens next:
A claims adjuster will contact the worker to discuss the claim, answer questions and notify the worker of additional claim forms that will be mailed for completion.
The worker must attend ALL medical appointments in relation to the injury.
Submit a copy of the Work Status Report (WSR) that the doctor provides after each visit on the WorkWhile app and provide advance notice of any scheduled appointments.
Worker FAQ
I am injured while on a job, can I wait until lunch to notify my site supervisor?
Safety is our highest priority. An injured worker should report an injury to their site supervisor immediately or as soon as it is practical.
What does Workers’ Compensation cover?
Workers' compensation insurance provides six basic benefits: medical care (reasonable expenses), temporary disability benefits, permanent disability benefits, supplemental job displacement benefits or vocational rehabilitation, and death benefits.
What if I need help finding a doctor that is covered in the Workers’ Compensation Medical Provider Network (MPN)?
Upon contacting the Employee Injury Call Center (1-855-777-7090), a Triage Nurse will authorize your medical treatment with a nearby MPN clinic. For ongoing treatment, your claim adjuster can help locate doctors/specialists covered in the MPN in your area.
I have additional questions regarding MPN, who can I contact?
Your claim adjuster is a subject matter expert on all things MPN and can support any questions you may have.
I received a bill from the hospital, am I responsible for paying this?
Medical costs in relation to the injury are covered by Workers Compensation. Send all medical bills to the email at enewloss@nationwide.com
Will I be compensated for lost wages if I can’t work while I am recovering from a job injury?
You may receive temporary disability payments for a limited period up to two-thirds of your average weekly pay, within minimums and maximums set by state law. Payments are not made for the first three days you are off the job unless you are hospitalized overnight or cannot work for more than 14 days. Your claim adjuster can provide more information regarding compensation for lost wages.
If I am eligible to receive wages through Workers Compensation, how will I receive payment?
Your claim adjuster will discuss options for payment for eligible lost wages while you are recovering from a job injury. Payment will come directly from Workers Compensation and not through your normal pay arrangement with WorkWhile.
Can I sign up for another shift if I have an open Workers’ Compensation case?
To ensure your safety and continued recovery, you can begin to sign-up for shifts once your doctor has cleared you to return to work at 100% capacity with no restrictions.
What is Not Covered by Workers’ Comp?
Workers’ compensation insurance can help protect the company and the employees in the event of a covered loss, but some situations that take place on the job may not be covered. These vary from state to state and are typically determined by different state laws. Your claims adjuster can provide guidance on this topic.
Some examples of what may not be covered:
Injuries received by a fight that a worker started
Injuries an employee sustains due to being intoxicated in the workplace
Injuries an employee gets intentionally
I had no impacts from the injury on the first day and decided not to seek medical attention and file workers compensation. However, the next day, I felt pain. Can I seek medical attention?
In case of emergency, contact 911. If you do not require immediate medical attention, contact the Employee Injury Call Center (Triage Nurse) at 1-855-777-7090 for medical treatment. The nurse will complete an intake report and authorize your medical treatment with a nearby Medical Provider Network (MPN) clinic. You must also inform WorkWhile through your support chat in the app. Refer to the “Workers Compensation Policy and Procedure - Worker” and follow the guide for next steps.
Your upcoming shifts on WorkWhile will be canceled until you are cleared by the doctor to work again.