Workers Compensation

Workplace safety is the responsibility of each employee and is a key priority at the Research Foundation. Each employee is expected to contribute to safe work practices in accordance with the SJSURF Injury and Illness Prevention Program [pdf]. That said, there are situations where work-related injuries and illnesses occur.

Whether or not an employee’s own conduct or actions contributed to or caused the injury or illness will not normally affect their eligibility to receive appropriate medical attention and treatment from the SJSU Research Foundation Workers’ Compensation program. The Research Foundation Workers’ Compensation is a NO FAULT program. 

What to Do

In an emergency, please call or dial 9-1-1.  

If an employee is injured or becomes ill on the job, and the injury or illness is work-related, the employee MUST IMMEDIATELY notify their assigned manager or supervisor, or call Human Resources (HR) directly, unless doing so would hurt the employee by delaying the seeking of medical assistance.

The supervisor or manager must:

  • Provide first aid, if they are medically trained, or if first aid trained staff is readily available.
  • As soon as possible, either accompany or arrange transportation for the employee to the appropriate medical facility. Please refer to this list of Preferred Providers Clinics [pdf].

Notify Research Foundation Human Resources about the injury/illness as soon as possible. Be prepared to give a short account of what happened. You will be asked to fill out an Injury/Illness Investigation Report.

Injuries or Illnesses Involving SJSU Students

If the injured or ill employee is a student of SJSU, then please refer the student to the SJSU Student Health Center.

Workers Compensation Policy Information

Occupational injuries or illnesses are covered by the Research Foundation’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Policy through CSURMA/AORMA, which is provided at no cost to the employee. The Workers’ Compensation program is administered by Sedgwick CMS.

Claim Timeframe: 5 Days

California law requires the Research Foundation to complete an Employer’s Report of Occupational Injury or Illness (DLSR 5020) [pdf] within five days of their knowledge of every occupational injury or illness that results in lost time beyond the date of the incident OR which requires medical treatment beyond first aid.  

Per Labor Code Sec. 5402, an employer’s knowledge of an injury, obtained from ANY source, including a managing agent, superintendent, foreman, or other person in authority, or an employer’s knowledge of an assertion of a claim of injury, is an equivalent notice of injury. The time frame mentioned is a legal obligation which must be adhered to.

The Research Foundation’s Workers’ Compensation program does not cover independent contractors or volunteers. While these individuals should be medically referred, the proper referral is to their personal physicians or clinics.

For more information, please contact Human Resources at
fdn-hr-group@sjsu.edu.