Workers' Compensation

940-369-0030 or Fax 940-369-4980 

Workers' Compensation is a State-Regulated Insurance Program that:

• Pays reasonable medical costs if you are injured on the job
• May pay income benefits to replace part of the wages you lose because of an on-the-job injury
• Pays income benefits if you have a permanent impairment from an on-the-job injury and
• Pays death benefits to your legal beneficiaries if you are killed on the job

Workers' compensation will replace 70% or 75% of an employee's lost wages, depending on the hourly rate, if the injury or illness causes the employee to lose all of his/her income for more than seven days. An employee becomes eligible for Temporary Income Benefits (TIB) on the eighth day when a work-related injury or illness causes the employee to lose all of his/her usual pay.

An employee must report any on-the-job injury to the campus nurse or his/her supervisor by the conclusion of the work day. The affected school or department must report all on-the-job injuries and/or work-related illnesses to the Benefits Department at 940-369-0028 within twenty-four (24) hours.

Due to the State of Texas requirements for punctual reporting of on-the-job injuries and work-related illnesses, it is imperative that such incidents be reported promptly and accurately. Failure to report may result in substantial fines assessed against the Denton ISD by the Texas Workers' Compensation System. Any injury or illness must be reported,even if no medical treatment is sought.

1. Non-Life Threatening Injury:

1.1 An employee shall report an alleged on-the-job injury to the campus nurse or his/her supervisor by the conclusion of the shift in which the injury occurred. If a nurse or supervisor is not on duty, report the alleged injury to a secretary, then to the immediate supervisor by the conclusion of the next work day.

1.2 If the injured employee requires medical treatment, send the affected employee to an appropriate medical provider listed in the packet. Call the Benefits Department when this occurs. If after normal work hours, call by the conclusion of the next work day.

1.3 By the conclusion of the next work day after the occurrence of an alleged on-the-job injury, the injured employee's supervisor or campus nurse shall complete an "Employee Accident Report” report and email it to pklein@dentonisd.org or fax it to the Benefits Department at 940-369-4980.

1.4 The injured employee's immediate supervisor or secretary shall call and notify the Benefits Department as soon as an employee starts losing time due to an alleged on-the-job injury. (Follow the phone call with a written confirmation email to pklein@dentonisd.org.) If after normal work hours, call or email by the conclusion of the next work day.

1.5 Charge all absences from work due to an alleged on-the-job injury to workers' compensation leave, except for the remainder of the work shift in which the employee was injured. This time should be carried as time worked.  No workers' compensation benefits will be paid without a physician's statement taking the employee off of work.

2. Life-Threatening Injury:

2.1 As soon as an alleged life-threatening on-the-job injury has occurred, the injured employee's supervisor or campus nurse should contact the following people in the order listed below:

      1st Call: Ambulance (911-only if one is needed)

      2nd Call: Injured employee's immediate supervisor (if not already at the scene of the accident)

      3rd Call: Benefits Department (if after normal work hours, leave a message or email Phyllis Klein)

2.2 After the employee has been taken or sent for appropriate medical treatment, the nurse/supervisor should investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. If there were witnesses to the accident, get their statements.

2.3 By the conclusion of the next workday after the occurrence of an alleged on-the-job injury, the injured employee's supervisor or campus nurse shall complete an "Employee Accident Report” report and email to pklein@dentonisd.org or fax it to the Benefits Department at 940-369-4980.

2.4 The injured employee's immediate supervisor shall call and notify the Benefits Department as soon as an employee starts losing time due to an alleged on-the-job injury. (Follow the phone call with a written confirmation email to pklein@dentonisd.org) If after normal work hours, call by the conclusion of the next work day.

2.5 Charge all absences from work due to an alleged on-the-job injury to workers' compensation leave, except for the remainder of the work shift in which the employee was injured. This time should be carried out as time worked. Workers' compensation benefits will not be paid without the appropriate treating physician's statement formally taking the employee off of work.

If medical treatment is sought for the injury/illness, the employee must have a Return to Work issued to them by the DISD Risk Management Department before they can return to their location.  All employees must have this Return to Work notice, otherwise, they will not be allowed to return to their campus and/or department.

3. Before you return to work:

3.1 When an employee is able to return to work, it is the employee’s responsibility to deliver a health care provider release (medical release) to the Denton ISD Risk Management Department before they return to their work location. This must be an original form signed by their doctor stating the date they can return to work and if there are any restrictions.  

3.2 The return to work release will be reviewed and determined if the employee can return to work.  If they can, a Return to Work form will be emailed to the employee and their supervisor advising them of the return date.

3.3 If the doctor has placed restrictions on their return, the Denton ISD Risk Management Department will email the direct supervisor to see if the restrictions can be accommodated. If it is determined that they can be accommodated, the employee and their Supervisor will be emailed a Return to Work Notice, and the employee must return to work on that date.

3.4 If the restrictions cannot be accommodated, the employee cannot return to work until they have seen their doctor again and the restrictions have been lifted.

 Any absence due to a work-related injury or illness that exceeds 5 workdays shall be designated as FML, TDL, and/or assault leave, as applicable.