About Workers' Compensation

Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated benefit for employees with work-related injuries and illnesses, awarded without regard to who is at fault. Employers are required to provide benefits in case of injury, illness, death, or aggravation of a pre-existing condition resulting from employment. For the University of California, these benefits are administered by a self-insured plan. There is no outside insurance carrier. The University contracts with a third-party administrator, Sedgwick CMS, for the management of its claims.

UC Berkeley's Workers' Compensation Program
The Workers’ Compensation Program was developed to ensure compliance with state legislation. In addition to coordinating the claims process with Sedgwick CMS, the Berkeley campus Workers’ Compensation Program provides a comprehensive, longer-term approach to improving health and safety. Since 1994, the Program has been administered by the University Health Services (UHS). Various units within UHS work together to provide employee services focused on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. These units are Disability Management Services, CARE Services for Faculty and Staff (the campus employee assistance program), Ergonomics@Work, Occupational Health Clinic, Physical Therapy, and Health*Matters (the worksite wellness program). This synergistic approach, coupled with the expertise from other campus departments such as the Office of Environment, Health & Safety (EH&S), capitalizes on the strengths of each program and demonstrates the campus’ commitment to providing a safe and healthy work environment for staff and faculty.

Learn More
To learn more about UC Berkeley’s Workers’ Compensation Program and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, you may review the Workers’ Compensation Handbook for Supervisors. The handbook covers many topics that may be of interest to you including relevant questions and answers.

To learn more about California Workers’ Compensation System and Vocational Rehabilitation Services contact the California Department of Industrial Relation’s Division of Workers’ Compensation. You may call the local DWC office found in the white pages under State Government/Industrial Relations/Workers’ Compensation or you can go to DWC’s website www.dir.ca.gov and link to DWC or Commission on Health & Safety & Workers’ Compensation. There are a number of informative guides for injured workers which may be helpful.

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