Recent WCB Alberta Policy Updates – Is There Good News for Alberta Employers?
The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Alberta recently announced a number of policy updates that are now in effect. While policy updates are intended to address issues and ensure that the WCB is staying current with the needs of injured workers yet remain fair to employers, the changes implemented often require closer examination to determine their impact. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what has changed and how it might affect employers and their Employer Premium Rate Statements. Reimbursement of housekeeping expenses prior to December 1, 2013 – Policy 04-10, Part II, Application 3: On December 1, 2013, the WCB Alberta introduced a housekeeping allowance policy to cover expenses incurred by workers with permanent serious compensable disabilities that prevented them from performing the tasks themselves. Prior to December 1, 2013, these costs would have been paid by injured workers themselves. The policy revision is an acknowledgment […]
Holiday Greetings 2021
Please note: Our offices will be closed from December 24th, 2021 until January 3rd, 2022. Well, another trip ‘round the sun is almost complete, and what a ride it’s been! Another rollercoaster year of living through a pandemic; working remotely, manning the front lines, social distancing, handwashing, mask-wearing, getting vaccinated, then finally going out again, gathering with friends and family only to brace for the next variant of concern and what havoc it may wreak. COVID-19 all but canceled Christmas last year and this year was looking a little more optimistic until Omicron. ‘Tis the season, maybe this year more than ever… for connecting and catching up, for good food with good friends and family. It is also a time for giving and sharing, a time for thinking of others and of those less fortunate, a time to give thanks for all that we have, and a time to reflect […]
Orange Shirt Day: September 30th
This year, September 30, 2021, marks an inaugural statutory holiday in Canada in observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or Orange Shirt Day. It was originally created as a day of observance in 2013 and is designed to educate and promote awareness about the Indian residential school system, and the devastating impact it had on indigenous communities for over a century. In brief, shortly after Confederation, in a misguided attempt to secure Canada as a nation and forge a single Canadian identity, the government of Canada felt it should absorb the First Nations into the general population and essentially extinguish their culture. One of the methods used was to open residential schools, in conjunction with a number of Christian churches, that would separate indigenous children from their parents and culture. The children would effectively be immersed in the ‘new’ Canada, leaving behind their native roots. As a […]
WCB Alberta Employer Policy Review: Support Services
On October 1st, 2019, the Workers’ Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB) announced that it was entering Phase 2 of a high-level review of Employer accounts and premium policies and was looking for feedback, ideas and suggestions until December 2, 2019. Of particular interest to some Alberta employers are changes to Policy 07-01, Part II, Application 1, regarding businesses providing support services to an industry and how that business is classified. The WCB is proposing the following addition to the current policy: How does WCB classify a business providing support services to an industry? Businesses providing coordination, marketing, management or administration of a specific service which generates revenue from another business, will be classified in the industry it supports. For example, a fast food franchisor that provides only administration services will be classified in the restaurant industry. While this may seem to make sense at first glance, the reality is that […]
10 Things to Check on Your 2019 WCB Premium Rate Statement
If you haven’t seen it already, your 2019 Premium Rate Statement should be available shortly. This statement not only advises you of the WCB Premium rate you have been assessed at for the coming year but provides you with the information used to calculate your rate. According to current information, the average WCB 2019 premium rate in has gone down in Saskatchewan, increased in Alberta and remained the same in Manitoba and British Columbia, as compared to the 2018 levels. The rate-setting process is complex and even the smallest change in the data used can have a significant impact on the number of premiums you pay. It is important to consider the following questions while reviewing your statement: Is your company name/address correct? Have your operations or business changed? Are you classified in the most appropriate Industry? Has your industry code changed? Are you being assessed a surcharge? For Alberta […]