What Is a C-2F Form and When Must Employers File It After a Workplace Injury?

A C-2F form is the "Employer's First Report of Work-Related Injury/Illness." A New York employer files it with the Workers' Compensation Board after a qualifying workplace injury. Employers usually must submit it within 10 days of the accident, or within 10 days of learning about the injury. The form officially opens the workers' compensation claim process.

If you were hurt on the job in New York City, the C-2F is often the first piece of paperwork that moves your claim forward. Filing it is your employer's job, not yours. Many injured workers never see the form and have no idea whether it was filed at all. This guide explains what the C-2F form is, when an employer has to submit it, the penalties for skipping it, and what you can do if your employer fails to act.

When Must an Employer File the C-2F Form?

This is the most common question, and the answer has more nuance than most people expect. Under New York Workers' Compensation Law § 110, an employer's duty to report depends on how serious the injury is. The clock that governs filing can also start on different dates.

Not every injury triggers a report to the Board

A minor cut or bruise that needs nothing more than a bandage does not, by itself, require a report to the Workers' Compensation Board. Under WCL § 110, the reporting duty is usually triggered when a work-related injury causes either:

• Lost work time beyond the shift on which the accident happened, or
• Medical treatment beyond ordinary first aid (more than two first-aid treatments).

If neither threshold is met, the employer still fills out the C-2F but keeps it on file internally instead of submitting it. There is an important catch. If the injury later crosses the threshold, the employer's duty to file with the Board kicks in. Say a worker is first treated with ice and a bandage, then goes back for a third treatment a few days later. A "minor" injury that worsens can quietly become a reportable one.

The 10-day clock

When the report is required, it must be filed within 10 days. The statute does not say "business days." Under standard New York statutory interpretation, that means calendar days, including weekends and holidays. The 10-day window runs from the accident or from the date the employer learned of the injury, whichever date is later. That "whichever is later" language matters for workers whose employers do not find out about an injury right away.

The official Workers' Compensation Board employer guide phrases the deadline as on or before the 18th day after the injury occurred, or within 10 days after the employer learns of the event, whichever period is greater. The practical takeaway is the same one workers should hold onto. A reportable injury has to be documented and filed promptly. An employer cannot ignore it just because the injury did not seem dramatic at first.

What this looks like for real NYC workers

A few concrete scenarios show how the timing rule plays out:

• A construction worker in Brooklyn falls from scaffolding and is taken to the emergency room. The injury clearly exceeds first aid and involves lost time, so the employer files the C-2F within the required window.
• A food service worker in Queens sprains a wrist, gets ice and a bandage, then sees a doctor two days later. That added treatment can push the injury past the first-aid threshold and trigger the duty to file.
• An office worker in Manhattan reports neck pain after a lifting incident and misses two days of work. The injury seems minor, but the lost time means the employer must report it.

Who Files the C-2F — and Who Does Not

One of the most common points of confusion is who actually has to fill out and submit this form. The short version: it is the employer's job, not the injured worker's.

The employer, or the employer's insurance carrier acting for them, submits the C-2F to the Workers' Compensation Board and to the insurance carrier. In practice, many employers never file the C-2F directly. Under the Board's electronic claims (eClaims) system, an employer's insurer can meet the reporting requirement by filing a First Report of Injury (FROI) electronically. If the insurer files the FROI, the employer usually does not have to separately submit a C-2F. This is why a worker who asks "did my employer file the form?" may get a confusing answer. The report may have been filed electronically by the insurer rather than on the paper C-2F itself.

Workers have their own, separate duty. Under Workers' Compensation Law § 18, an injured employee usually must give the employer written notice of the injury within 30 days. That notice is not the same as the C-2F. Giving your employer notice does not mean the employer filed its report, and one does not replace the other.

The worker's own claim form is the C-3 (Employee Claim for Compensation), filed directly with the Workers' Compensation Board. The C-3 lets a worker open or protect a claim even when the employer does nothing. There is more on that below.

What Information Goes on the C-2F?

Knowing what belongs on the form helps you confirm whether your employer reported your injury accurately. The C-2F collects the details the Board needs to evaluate the claim and calculate benefits. According to the official Form C-2F, the report includes:

• Employee information: full name, date of birth, home address, job title, hire date, usual work schedule, and last day worked.
• Injury details: the date, time, and location of the incident, a description of how it happened, the body part or parts affected, and whether the event is an injury, an illness, or a fatality.
• Medical treatment: the name and address of the treating provider and the date of first treatment.
• Time lost: the days missed from work and whether the worker is still out at the time of reporting.
• Wage information: average weekly gross pay and pay type (hourly, salary, or other), which the Board uses to calculate benefit amounts.
• Employer and insurance details: employer name and address, insurance carrier, policy number, and a contact person.

Accuracy matters here. Errors or missing information can delay medical authorizations and benefit payments. Inconsistencies can also become a sticking point if the claim is later disputed.

Penalties When an Employer Fails to File the C-2F on Time

New York treats timely reporting as a legal duty, not a courtesy, and there are real consequences for ignoring it.

Under WCL § 110, an employer's failure to file the required report is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000. The Workers' Compensation Board can also impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 after an administrative hearing under 12 NYCRR 310.1. These are two separate penalties. An employer can face both a criminal fine and an administrative penalty for the same failure to report.

To be clear, this is a misdemeanor fine, not automatic jail time. For most injured workers, the bigger worry is not the penalty the employer might pay. It is the practical damage a missing report can do to the claim itself. When the C-2F is never filed, workers often see delays in medical authorization and lost-wage payments. Worse, if the injury was never officially reported, the insurer may later dispute whether it even happened at work. That can turn a straightforward claim into a contested one.

What Injured NYC Workers Can Do If the Employer Doesn't File

If you suspect your employer never reported your injury, you are not stuck. You have several options, and you do not need your employer's cooperation to protect your claim.

Ask the employer directly. Sometimes the report was filed electronically through the insurer and the worker simply never heard about it. Start by asking HR or a supervisor whether a report was filed.

Request a copy. Under WCL § 110, an employer must give the injured employee a copy of the report on request. Asking for that copy in writing gives you documentation and signals that you are paying attention.

File a C-3 yourself. You do not have to wait for your employer. You can file your own Employee Claim, Form C-3, directly with the Workers' Compensation Board, either online, by mail, or at a Board district office. Filing the C-3 starts the claim process on your own, even if your employer has done nothing. The Board's file-a-claim guide walks through the steps.

Contact the Board. Workers can call the Workers' Compensation Board at (877) 632-4996 or visit wcb.ny.gov to report an employer that is not cooperating.

Document everything. Keep copies of your medical records, the written notice you gave your employer, the names of any witnesses, and any messages about the injury. This record becomes valuable if the claim is later questioned, sometimes years after the fact. Employers are usually required to keep the C-2F on file for up to 18 years.

Talk to a workers' compensation attorney. An attorney can press an uncooperative employer to file, represent you at Board hearings, and make sure deadlines do not quietly run out on your claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the C-2F different from the C-3 form?

Yes. The C-2F is the employer's report of your injury, filed by the employer or its insurer. The C-3 is your own Employee Claim for Compensation, which you file directly with the Workers' Compensation Board. They are separate documents with separate purposes. You can file your C-3 even if no C-2F was ever submitted.

Does the C-2F need to be filed for minor injuries?

Not always. If an injury causes no lost time beyond the shift and needs only ordinary first aid (two or fewer treatments), the employer fills out the C-2F but keeps it internally rather than filing with the Board. If the injury later requires more treatment or causes missed work, the duty to file with the Board is triggered.

What does "10 days" mean — business days or calendar days?

The statute says "days" without qualification. Under standard New York interpretation, that means calendar days, including weekends and holidays. The 10-day window runs from the accident or from when the employer learned of the injury, whichever is later.

Can my employer's insurer file the C-2F instead?

Yes. Under the Board's eClaims system, an insurer can file a First Report of Injury (FROI) electronically for the employer. When the insurer files the FROI, the employer usually does not need to separately submit a C-2F.

How long must the employer keep the C-2F on file?

Employers are usually required to keep the C-2F for up to 18 years. The long retention period exists because some work-related conditions and disputes surface long after the original injury date.

Does the injured worker get a copy of the C-2F?

You have the right to one. Under WCL § 110, the employer must give the injured employee a copy of the report on request. Asking in writing is the cleanest way to get it.

What if the employer says the injury wasn't work-related?

A dispute over whether an injury is work-related does not erase your right to file. You can submit your own C-3 and let the Workers' Compensation Board weigh the evidence. This is exactly the kind of situation where thorough documentation, including medical records, written notice, and witness names, becomes important.

What if I'm an undocumented worker — does the C-2F apply to me?

Yes. In New York, immigration status does not disqualify a worker from workers' compensation coverage. The employer's duty to report applies regardless of status, and undocumented workers have the same right to file a claim and receive benefits as any other employee.

This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Every case is different. Contact an attorney to discuss your specific situation.

Sources & Official Resources

New York Laws Cited

1. Workers' Compensation Law § 110 — Employer Duty to Report Injuries
2. Workers' Compensation Law § 18 — Employee Notice of Injury to Employer

NYC/State Agency Resources 3. NYS Workers' Compensation Board — When an Injury Happens (Employer Guide) 4. NYS Workers' Compensation Board — Form C-2F (Employer's First Report) 5. NYS Workers' Compensation Board — Form C-3 (Employee Claim for Compensation) 6. NYS Workers' Compensation Board — How to File a Claim

Contact The Orlow Firm

If you were hurt at work in New York City and your employer has not filed the C-2F, or you simply cannot tell whether they have, understanding your rights is an important first step. A missing or late report can stall your medical care and your benefits, but it does not have to derail your claim. The Orlow Firm has helped injured workers throughout Queens and New York City for more than 40 years, including cases where an employer delayed or refused to file the required reports.

Call (646) 647-3398 for a free and confidential consultation. We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we win.

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