ADS Chapter 442 - The Workers’ Compensation Program

This program is administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), U.S. Department of Labor, which is responsible for administering the Federal Workers' Compensation Program government-wide, adjudicating claims in accordance with applicable regulations, and managing medical or compensation payments. USAID's Office of Human Capital and Talent Management, Human Capital Service Center, Employee Services and Benefits Division (HCTM/HCSC/ESB) is responsible for providing overall administration and management of FECA responsibilities in USAID. This includes coordinating FECA claims with OWCP and various offices within USAID to facilitate timely processing of claims and related paperwork, monitoring Continuation of Pay (COP) entitlements and payments, and coordinating controversies of COP claims with the employee's supervisor and OWCP. The Office of Human Capital and Talent Management, Human Capital Service Center (HCTM/HCSC), the Foreign Service Center (HCTM/FSC) Divisions, the Center for Performance Excellence, Executive Resources Division (HCTM/CPE/ER), and USAID Missions are responsible for working with Bureau/Independent Office (B/IO) management staff to identify and offer positions to employees who recover from covered injuries and illnesses, and/or to identify light or limited duty positions for qualifying partially disabled employees who are cleared to work. The Office of Civil Rights and Diversity (OCRD) is responsible for administering the reasonable accommodation program in a manner consistent with USAID policies and procedures, and all applicable federal laws, regulations, and guidelines. The Office of the Inspector General, Assistant Inspector General for Management (OIG/AIG/M), is responsible for OWCP claims filed by OIG employees in Washington and overseas, payment of chargeback bills associated with OIG claims, and identifying light or limited duty and other positions for employees cleared to return to work. The Bureau for Management, Office of the Chief Financial Officer (M/CFO) is responsible for providing HCTM/ESB with quarterly Continuation of Pay reports, establishing procedures for, and processing, employees' approved requests for repurchase and recrediting of leave, and reviewing/reconciling and paying OWCP's Federal Employees' Compensation Assessment bills associated with claims for USAID. The Bureau for Management, Office of Management Services (M/MS) is responsible for investigating, assessing, and making appropriate action and abatement recommendations concerning safety and health aspects of all reported work-related traumatic injuries and illnesses. The Office of Medical Service, Department of State (M/MED) is responsible for documenting injuries of USAID employees, as necessary and appropriate, when they occur at U.S. embassies, and coordinating with HCSC/ESB, as necessary, on any claims resulting from the injuries. Bureau/Independent Office (B/IO) Administrative Management Staff (AMS) are responsible for coordinating with the HCSC/ESB Workers Compensation Specialist regarding rights and procedures under the workers' compensation program, helping employees and supervisors complete OWCP claim forms, coding Continuation of Pay actions in webTA based upon guidance from HCSC/ESB, and reviewing their B/IO's compensation claims and referring suspected fraud or otherwise questionable cases to HCSC/ESB.