If an employee is receiving salary continuation in lieu of temporary disability, is a DWC notice needed?

• A. No, a separate notice is not required
• B. Yes, a regular DWC notice
• C. Yes, a DWC notice with an explanation of the salary continuation
• D. No, but an explanation of the plan is required

Answer: (C)

When an employee is receiving salary continuation in lieu of temporary disability, a DWC notice is indeed required, and it must include an explanation of the salary continuation arrangement. This is essential for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the DWC notice serves to inform the employee of their rights and obligations in relation to the workers' compensation system. Given that salary continuation is a form of compensation that may not follow the standard temporary disability benefits, it is critical to clarify this deviation to ensure the employee understands how their wage replacement is being managed.

Moreover, providing an explanation in the notice helps in maintaining transparency and compliance with regulatory requirements. This is particularly important in cases where the employee may have questions about the nature of their compensation and the implications it may have on their workers' compensation claim. By including this information, the employer aids in preventing potential disputes or misunderstandings regarding the employee's entitlements.

Without this explicit communication, employees might remain uninformed about how their salary continuation interacts with other benefits they may be entitled to, leading to confusion about their financial situation during their recovery. Therefore, issuing a DWC notice that includes an explanation of the salary continuation is necessary for both compliance and clarity for the employee.