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Cole County Commission adopts change to workers' comp pay for three-day waiting period
Summary
The commission voted to end the county's practice of paying employees full wages during the statutory three-day workers' compensation waiting period and to allow use of accrued leave; the change takes effect the first full pay period in July.
Cole County commissioners voted June 16 to change a long-standing practice of paying employees full wages for the first three days of work-loss under authorized physician orders. HR staff told the commission the county's practice effectively resulted in double payment when Missouri Employers Mutual could not recover those amounts under statute.
HR/staff (S9) recommended the county stop the practice and instead follow the workers' compensation statute, while allowing employees the option to use accrued leave for the waiting period. After discussion about employee protections and implementation timing, the commission adopted the HR-recommended change to take effect with the first full pay period in July.
"I would like for us to cease that practice right away and follow statute as it's written," the staff member said, arguing the county's prior practice increased the county's claim experience and ultimately premium costs.
Staff explained the statutory framework described in the meeting: under the state's work-comp statute the first three days is generally a waiting period, and workers' compensation pays 60% (two-thirds) of wages for lost-time benefits; the county historically paid 100% and, when an absence extended to 14 consecutive days, the insurer paid retroactively for those first three days. HR recommended formalizing a handbook change to allow accrued leave to cover the waiting period if employees choose that option. Commissioners discussed implementation logistics and agreed on an effective date to allow payroll notice and transition.
The motion to adopt the policy as suggested by HR was made and approved by voice vote; commissioners directed staff to send an informational email and to implement the change effective the first full pay period in July.
The decision will change how short-term lost-time pay is administered and likely reduce county overpayments that HR said have increased claim experience-based premiums. Staff said they would circulate implementation details to supervisors and affected employees.
The meeting transcript records robust commissioner concern for injured employees' welfare during discussion and notes an option to use accrued leave as a mitigation measure.
The change is administrative policy and not a statutory amendment; staff indicated they will formalize the handbook language and circulate guidance to employees.
