As 2022 starts to draw to a close, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has released some important updates for employers to note for the year ahead. 2023/2024 WSIB Employer Updates On October 20, 2022, the WSIB announced that the average premium rate for Ontario businesses in 2023 will remain steady at $1.30 … Continued
Managing mental health in the workplace can be challenging for all employers. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 70% of employees have concerns with the psychological health and safety of their workplace. COVID-19 has only increased the focus on how to handle mental health challenges among working-aged people and has emphasized the importance … Continued
Surplus Rebate On the heels of yet another wave of the pandemic, businesses continue to feel the financial impact of COVID-19. However, a welcome announcement has come from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), advising that $1.5 billion in rebates are being returned to eligible safe Schedule 1 businesses in Ontario. Recent legislative changes … Continued
Employers are feeling the impacts of a diminished labour force and economic fallout from the Omicron COVID-19 variant, and an unprecedented wave of new claims has been hitting the Workers’ Compensation Boards (WCBs). Qualifying a COVID-19 claim as work-related previously required a positive PCR test, which are now in limited supply. Employers have responded by … Continued
The last quarter – the perfect time of the year to announce what appears to be good news for 2022 to the employers of Ontario. As the wind starts to howl and the autumn of 2021 is presents abundant changes, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) announcement appears to be a “treat”, not a … Continued
Quebec’s Workers’ Compensation (WC) program, managed by the CNESST, operates in a unique way compared to other provinces and territories. Many of its distinct differences are particularly perplexing, making claims management in Quebec challenging. WC case management in Quebec is commonly considered more of a battle than a cooperative process. Its most challenging characteristic by … Continued
Workers’ compensation (WC) in Canada is no-fault. Since employees receive benefits instead of a determination of fault and negligence, employers pay insurance coverage premiums. Provincial WC boards determine and administer benefits for claims within their jurisdiction. Each province has specific WC laws and policies, but the criteria for accepting claims are mostly similar. In all … Continued
For many people, the past year’s work environment has been unprecedented. Employers asked their employees to pivot from the long-established office routines, and instead, work from home. Work-from-home arrangements necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely here for the long haul. Working from home will become permanent for some employees, at least for part of … Continued
Our society is now more concerned than ever with how employees are treated and how they are coping within the workplace. Mental health claims have become more common, with more claims being submitted and approved by workers’ compensation boards (WCBs) across Canada. The increase in mental health awareness has contributed to the volume of claims … Continued
