Injured on the route

UnknownUser · Jan 30, 2018

I'm an RCA serving a route that the assigned regular is out due to a surgery, the route is not a hold down yet. I fell an injured my ankle/foot (nothing broke) last week. I went to urgent care and then a follow up with occupational medicine the next morning and returned my CA-16. My restrictions are that I'm limited to chair work. I'm due to return to occupational medicine on Friday. I don't think they are going to let me return to do any work until I'm able to return to full duty. I'm not sure how manglement will handle this because I'm not the regular carrier and I don't know if they will pay me either. I don't know what time they entered on my 4240. After I went to the hospital I texted my supervisor the time I left urgent care. In my office I'm the most senior RCA. I have tried to get input from my district union rep with no response. Also I've not heard back from my supervisor that filed the CA-1 and CA-17. My wife was recently laid off from her job and I was scheduled 5 days this week. I usually work 45+55 hours per week regularly. So we really rely on my income. I'm not sure that I will return to work with a full duty release after my next appointment. If anyone has ever dealt with a similar situation as an RCA I would appreciate your input. I've been a steady reader on this forum for a while and have also searched other places for any information and have come up empty. So far I've called into work because they said there was nothing I could do, due to my restrictions. Fmla paperwork should be coming soon but I may be back to work next week or maybe not depending on how I'm healing. The doctor said I may need an MRI or physical therapy.

Background on the injury. I was attempting a certified letter to a house that had construction. Due to an obstruction on the porch I had to step off the side of the normal walkway. My foot slipped off the edge of the concrete sidewalk while stepping down, I rolled my ankle and sprained the ligaments in my foot. All reports and paperwork that was filed with work and the hospital clearly state the obstruction and the photos supervisor took as well show that. I would imagine they'll write me up for the accident but I've made sure to have everything state the obstruction to help myself out. I plan to fight it if they do.

Rt2mailman · Jan 30, 2018

You may want to call Devin Cassidy @ 703-684-5545. He is the OWCP specialist for our union, and may be able to help you know what forms you should be filling out and what you should say in your statement to OWCP. You should be able to fill out a form called C.O.P. (continuation of pay) which should help get you paid for the days you "normally" would have been working. All the forms and OWCP info is on the NRLCA website. You look under departments, worker's comp, then injury comp. handbook, to get all the info you will need.

UnknownUser · Feb 5, 2018

*Update*

I came back to work on Saturday. I still have restrictions. I'm able to case and deliver mounted only, no lift/push/pull over 40lbs, no dismounts, although they have stressed that I'll mostly be casing for now. But Saturday and today (Monday) we had call ins, so I've been doing mounted delivery and helping others get their routes up. My station manager and supervisors have been really helpful. They have even loaded my truck! They have been grateful with me coming in but also make sure my foot is okay/not too sore, let me decide if I want to come into work.

Saturday one of the supervisors told me that he was finishing payroll and I would be getting 40 hours pay for missing the previous week. The route I'm on currently is only a 42k, that's close enough for me and I'm happy with the way it has turned out. I just wish I would have had more information from the beginning, but I don't think they knew for sure because of all the special circumstances. So I figured I would put this update in for future references for another RCA, should this happen to anyone else.

dumbolehickfromms · Feb 6, 2018

RCA on OWCP gets the average of the previous years work.

For example you worked 100 days of the 302 delivery days. You would get about 2 days a week on OWCP; even if you were working 7 days a week this year.

So if you miss any days and they code it as OWCP ( i can't remember which one of top of head), you probably won't be paid but the 2.

Your best bet is to work a modified job -- schedule.

If you are a union member call the national office.

dumbolehickfromms · Feb 6, 2018

I guess I should have said hours instead of day so as not to confuse.

For all carriers they use the previous 12 month's hours to base your COP/OWCP. For regular carriers that usually isn't a problem.

RCA's can be a pain in the rear. If you only worked 20 hours on avg for 8 or 9 months and then get a 5 or 6 day assignment and get hurt at that point, well you pay will be drastically reduced because of the fewer hours earlier in the 12 month period

UnknownUser · Feb 6, 2018

I actually checked my pay stub on liteblue tonight. Looks like I'm getting 32 hours for last week. So I'm still happy with that. The route I was on previous to this current one, for the majority of last year I ran very frequently due to the carrier taking off for his wife's cancer treatments/to care for her, so that falls in line with the 32 hours. I'll have at least that amount tomorrow and plan working Thursday too so I'll end up closer to 40 which is not too bad considering the modified work. Our office is understaffed with many new subs needing assistance on other routes than my primary daily. I should be regular by the end of the year and when I do go regular, I'll check into some options for short term/long term disability insurance for some peace of mind. Thanks for the replies. I think this thread will help many others in the future.