Human Resource Services

Report all on-the-job injuries to your supervisor immediately. Notification can be as simple as a phone call, email, or text. You do not need to complete a form to make the initial notification. For occupational diseases, you must report within one year from the date you knew or should have known your condition resulted from an occupational disease.

You and your supervisor must complete a First Report of Injury (FROI) within 30 days of the date of injury. It is strongly recommended that the injured employee and supervisor complete the form together, as entering both email addresses helps expedite processing and ensures both parties receive updates at critical points in the process. 

Complete the First Report of Injury Form 

Once your FROI is submitted, it is sent to Montana State Fund and assigned to a claims examiner for processing. You can expect a phone call from them after the report has been filed. You may contact them directly at 406-495-5000.  

UM’s Claim Coordinator will also send you claim information once the claim has been assigned to an examiner.  

The University of Montana is committed to helping injured employees return to work safely and as quickly as medically appropriate, in accordance with BOR Policy 713.2 and the MUS Workers Compensation Stay-at-Work and Return-to-Work policy. 

Employees are asked to obtain a Medical Status Form from their physician indicating their work status at each office visit. When a Medical Status Form indicates an injured employee is ready to begin transitioning back to their position, the UM Workers Compensation Coordinator will form a Return to Work Transitional Team. This team typically includes: 

• The injured employee 

• The home department supervisor 

• The UM Workers Claim Coordinator 

• The Montana State Fund Claims Examiner 

• Physical therapy or vocational rehabilitation consultants as needed 

The team meets or communicates as needed to support a safe and timely return to the position of injury. If transitional work is not available in the home department, the Workers Compensation Coordinator may work across campus to identify appropriate temporary tasks in other departments. 

As noted, the treating physician completes a Medical Status Form detailing any restrictions under which the employee may return to work at each office visit. All return to work arrangements are made in accordance with those restrictions

Notify your supervisor immediately by any means available. Your supervisor can initiate the reporting process on your behalf in an emergency. Contact Michele Wheeler, Workers Compensation Coordinator, at 406-243-2842 if you need assistance.

Yes. Each UM employee who has incurred time loss and is medically released to transition back to their position is required to participate in the Return to Work Transitional Team process. The goal is to support a safe return at a pace appropriate to your medical restrictions.

The MUS Workers Compensation Program website and the Montana Department of Labor and Industry provide detailed information about benefits. You may also contact Michele Wheeler, Workers Compensation Coordinator, directly for questions specific to your situation.

Yes. Student employees paid through UM payroll are covered by the MUS Workers Compensation Program. Volunteers are not eligible.