Term

Definition

tax factor

same as tax multiplier

tax multiplier (TM)

for retrospectively rated WC plans, the average of the taxes, fees, and assessments that apply to the account

Teddy Award

see Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award

telecommuting

work that is conducted primarily from the worker's residence

temporary employer

an alternate employer

temporary partial disability (TPD)

temporary, but only partial, incapacity from work of an injured worker – during a period of partial incapacity, an employee can perform SOME paid work

temporary partial disability benefits TPD)

wage replacement benefits paid to an injured worker during that employee's period of temporary partial disability

temporary total disability (TTD)

temporary, but total, incapacity from work of an injured worker – during a period of total incapacity, an employee is unable to perform ANY paid work

temporary total disability benefits (TTD)

wage replacement benefits paid to an injured worker during that employee's period of temporary total disability

termination of benefits

in some states, the employer / insurer / claim administrator can stop TTD or TPD unilaterally; in other states, they need to obtain either a signed agreement from the injured worker or an order from the court or regulator

Theodore Roosevelt Workers’ Compensation and Disability Management Award

annual award that honors companies, governmental units, or non-profit organizations for efforts to reduce on-the-job injuries and associated costs

third party

for WC, a person, organization, or entity-- other than an employer, employee, or insurer-- who is or may be legally responsible in some way or to some degree for a WC claim

third party administrator (TPA)

claim administrator that is not part of the first party (insured) entity or second party (insurer) entity (e.g., Crawford and Company)

third-party case, third-party claim

for WC, claim by the injured worker against a third party that could result in some reimbursement to a WC program (subrogation)

third-party-over action

in WC, a third-party claim where the third party demands contribution or indemnity from the employer as a result of the employer's own negligence

Title VII claim

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating on the basis of race, color, sex, religion and national origin -- Title VII also prohibits employer' sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination as well as retaliation for making a Title VII claim

toxicology report

for WC, a medical or government report of test results for alcohol or other drug impairment

trade-off

for WC, the key trade-off is the workers’ rights to compensation for pain and suffering in exchange for not having to prove the employer’s negligence to recover

transfer of rights clause

WC policy provision that prevents the employer from transferring its rights under the policy to another entity without written consent of the insurer

transitional duty / transitional work

same as modified duty / modified work

traveling employee

employee who is temporarily away from his or her normal work location on business

treating physician (treater)

another term for a medical provider who treats the injured worker (not an independent medical examiner)

trended losses

raw losses adjusted to reflect inflation, including medical inflation

twenty-four hour coverage

coverage approach, such as that of New Zealand, that provides the same accident benefits whether one is in the course and scope of employment or not -- thought to reduce compensability disputes

two-year back rule

in a situation where the claim or notice period may be waived, sometimes the benefits are limited to two years back from the date the injured worker makes the claim