Report: Commissioners Nix Salary Continuation Benefits for County Employees

Friday, June 25, 2021 | 0

Commissioners of a North Carolina county recently voted to nix a policy that paid injured employees their full salaries in lieu of temporary disability benefits calculated at two-thirds of their wages, according to a local media report.

The Martin County Enterprise reports that the current workers’ compensation leave policy requires county workers to turn in their temporary disability checks to the county in exchange for their full pay.

“A permanent or probationary employee absent from duty because of sickness or disability (as certified by a doctor or other authorized health care provider) covered by the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act may receive workers' compensation benefits,” the county’s policy reads.

“An employee will turn in each signed benefit check to the finance department; such an employee will continue to receive his or her regular paycheck,” the policy adds.

The new policy approved during a June 9 meeting says workers will receive temporary disability benefits at two-thirds of their average earnings.

Martin County Manager U. James Bennett reported said during the meeting that because work comp benefits are not taxed, temporary disability benefits are close to what workers earned before their injury.

The report didn’t indicate when the new policy takes effect.