Workers' Comp

What is Workers’ Compensation ?

Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated benefit, paid by your employer, that entitles you to medical care, hospitalization, rehabilitation and partial wage replacement when you have job-related injuries or illness. In each state, a Workers' Compensation Board or regulatory agency receives and processes workers’ claims for benefits, employers’ reports of injuries and medical reports from physicians and other health care providers.

The Eastern Region’s Committee on Workers' Compensation and Workplace Safety continues to improve services for members with regard to Workers' Compensation. However, if you are injured on the job, there are things you can do to help yourself. Since more injuries occur on Broadway than anywhere else, specific New York State information is included here along with general information.

What To Do If You're Injured On The Job:

1. Report any and all accidents, injuries or work-related illnesses immediately to your Stage Manager.

2. Make sure the Stage Manager files an accident report with the producer and also the correct form to report the injury to the producer's Workers' Comp insurance company. (In New York, this is called a C-2 form.) Get a copy of this form.

3. Get the name and address of the insurance company and the policy number from the Stage Manager. Give this information to every doctor you see in connection with your work-related injury or illness (don't use your Equity health insurance). Make sure the doctor files the correct form with the State Workers' Comp Board. (In New York, this is called a C-4 form.) Get a copy of this form from every doctor.

4. Ask your Deputy to file an Accident Report with Equity, even if you don't think you'll miss any work. That way the Equity staff can keep track of causes of injuries. This is very important if Equity is to make stages safer for you in the future. (Note: this is not the same as the Accident Report the Stage Manager must file with the Producer).

5. Start a file on your injury or illness. Keep a copy of every form that is filed in your case.

6. If you are unable to work because of your injury or illness, you may receive disability benefits from your employer's workers' comp insurance. In addition, you should apply for the Supplemental Workers' Compensation Insurance (SWCI) benefit provided by the Equity-League Health Trust Fund, which provides additional weekly benefits, subject to certain caps. Call the appropriate Equity office to learn how to start your claim. Even if you will miss only a few days, do not use your sick days for this. Instead, file with Equity for SWCI, which will cover you for those days even if your State Workers' Comp benefit does not pay you for those days. Also see Supplemental Workers' Comp: How Benefits Are Calculated.

   
   You must file for SWCI within twelve months of receiving your first disability check from Workers' Comp.

Click here for Supplemental Workers' Comp: How Benefits Are Calculated