Is an employer responsible for paying employee for the days they are unable to work?

Question

Is an employer responsible for paying employee for the days they are unable to work?

Answer

An employer is not responsible for paying employees for time off work due to an on-the-job injury. All employers are required to have workers' compensation insurance, however, and so the employer's carrier will pay the injured worker if he/she misses more than 7 days of work.

Some employers choose to voluntarily allow their injured employees to use sick/vacation/PTO hours to make up for the difference between their regular pay and what workers' compensation pays (which is always at most 2/3 of their regular gross wages.) I've always considered that to be a win-win policy, because the employee doesn't fall behind financially, and it doesn't really cost the employer anything.