Newsletter No. 53

CUHK NEWSLETTER • An y employe e wh o suffer s injury by acciden t arisin g ou t of an d i n th e cours e o f hi s employmen t wil l b e awarde d legally-provided medica l cost s by th e University. I n cas e of permanen t incapacity , o r death , the n compensatio n derived fro m the University' s staf f insuranc e polic y wil l apply. O Wha t ar e the rates o f compensation ? • Th e amoun t o f compensatio n depend s o n th e claimant' s age, salary , an d th e degre e o f permanen t incapacity , o r whether i t i s a cas e o f death . Accordin g t o legislation s currently i n force , th e maximu m compensatio n fo r an employe e wh o die s whil e o n officia l dut y i s HK$ 1,260,000, whil e a n employe e wh o ha s sustaine d permanent tota l incapacit y ma y clai m a s muc h a s HK$ 1,440,000. (Ful l compensation rate s se e table ) O I f a n employe e sustain s a n injur y whil e o n th e wa y t o work, o r whil e o n overtim e work , wil l h e o r sh e b e entitled t o medical cost s an d compensation ? • A n employe e wh o i s o n th e wa y t o work , literall y speaking, ha s no t yet commenced hi s or her official duty. Therefore suc h a n employe e i s no t entitle d t o th e abov e mentioned benefit s unde r norma l circumstances , an d s o far ther e ha s bee n n o preceden t cas e o f suc h a claim . However th e Universit y ha s reache d a n agreemen t wit h its insuranc e agen t t o exten d insuranc e coverag e t o staf f members wh o trave l t o an d fro m wor k b y University - arranged transport , eg . the staf f buses. It can onl y b e sai d here, wit h regar d t o employee s i n transi t i n general , tha t anyone wh o i s a victim o f a n acciden t involving a means of transpor t ma y alway s clai m th e relevan t typ e o f insurance benefit s o r compensatio n fro m th e individua l or organizatio n concerned . A s regard s injurie s sustaine d outside norma l hour s o f work , consideratio n t o claim s will b e give n onl y afte r the head o f th e uni t concerne d i s able to confirm that the claimant is about the University' s business an d no t hi s o r he r ow n affair s a t th e tim e th e accident occurs . W h e n Y o u A r e O u t s i d e H o n g K o n g O I s compensatio n availabl e t o thos e wh o sustai n injurie s outside Hon g Kong ? • Th e Universit y ha s mad e arrangement s fo r compensation benefits to be extended t o employees on official duty outside Hon g Kong . However , medica l benefit s fo r staff members wh o suffe r injurie s outsid e Hon g Kon g whil e on officia l busines s i s subjec t t o certai n restrictions , a s approved medica l standard s var y fro m plac e t o place . Furthermore, th e Universit y i s no t liabl e t o pa y compensation if thei r injur y i s sustaine d no t a s a resul t o f official business, o r outside th e hours of officia l duty. O Wha t shoul d the y d o then t o ensure bette r coverage ? • Th e Oversea s Coverag e me n t i o n e d e a r l i e r i s a complement t o th e compensatio n packag e require d b y law. Oversea s Coverag e involve s a n insuranc e polic y providing a relativel y broa d coverag e agains t injurie s sustained whethe r o n o r outsid e Universit y business . I t also cover s medica l cost s an d compensatio n fo r permanent o r temporar y incapacity , los s o f limb s an d other bodil y functions , and death . O As the premium fo r Overseas Coverag e i s paid fo r by th e University, I would like to know wh o may qualif y for this scheme. • An y employe e age d betwee n 2 1 an d 7 0 year s wh o ar e due t o leav e Hon g Kon g o n a n approve d officia l University dut y ma y appl y t o th e Busines s Sectio n fo r an Oversea s Coverag e insuranc e policy . Bu t thos e wh o are age d 6 5 o r abov e wil l nee d t o furnis h proo f o f thei r physical fitness . If nee d be , th e Busines s Sectio n wil l b e glad t o offer advice. O Bu t how abou t thos e who ar e below 2 1 o r abov e 7 0 wh o go abroa d o n University business ? • Thes e woul d b e ver y rar e cases . Whe n the y occur , th e University wil l see k coverag e fo r suc h personne l b y purchasing Blu e Cross travel insurance policies: these ar e policies whic h allo w fo r greater flexibilit y wit h regard t o the ag e of th e persons insured . E m p l o y e e s ' C o m p e n s a t i o n S umma ry o f Comp e n s a t i o n Rate s (1.1.94 ) Amount o f Compensatio n (HK$) Maximum Minimum Death 1,260,000 :219,000 Permanent tota l incapacity 1,440,000 £48,000 Constant attention allowance 297,000 Burial and medical attendance expenses 12,000 Minimum earnings per month 2,250 Cost of supplying and fitting a prothesis or surgical appliance 24,000 Cost of normal repair and renewal o f a prosthesis or surgical applianc e 74,000 Daily rates for medical expense s 120 NO.53APRIL 1994 10