Things to consider before voting for the WCB’s Industry Custom Pricing
A number of industries in Alberta will be voting on Monday, September 15th on whether to join a program the Workers’ Compensation Board calls Industry Custom Pricing or ICP. The WCB describes it as “an optional program that empowers industries to customize various features of their pricing program, giving them greater control over the premiums they pay.” In effect, the ICP program offers industry members lower premium costs in return for giving up the option for cost relief in certain cases (the Cost Relief Option), or for allowing the WCB to modify the rate-setting calculations for that industry (the Experience Rating Option). There’s a good BCL overview of this program with more background and some common questions here. In a nutshell, all the members of a given industry group get to vote on whether to become part of the ICP program, and if companies that represent more than 50% of […]
What is a WCB Clearance Letter and Why Do I Need One?
Whether you are an individual contractor or a business, whether you are looking to hire or looking to be hired, ensuring that proper workers compensation (WCB) coverage is in place is essential. Regardless of which side of the transaction you are on, there are benefits to having a WCB Clearance Letter. What is a WCB Clearance Letter? A WCB clearance letter is a document issued by a Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) that confirms a contractor or business is in good standing with its workers’ compensation premiums and coverage. It demonstrates that the company has an active workers’ compensation account, has paid the necessary premiums, and complies with local workers’ compensation regulations. A clearance letter also identifies who is covered and the industry they are covered in. Why You Need a WCB Clearance Letter: For contractors, subcontractors and businesses looking to be hired: Proof of Compliance: It shows that your company […]
WCB Alberta Return to Work Programs – A Win-Win Approach
It has long been accepted that the sooner a worker can safely get back to work following an injury or illness the more likely they are to have a positive outcome. Even though they may not be completely recovered, just returning to the workplace, in some capacity, can be beneficial to their overall convalescence. The longer an injured or ill worker is away from their work environment, the more protracted and costly their recovery can be. While serious injuries and illnesses may understandably result in longer absences from work, the reality is that the majority of work related accidents are minor, requiring little or no time loss. By offering modified work programs that can be tailored to address the unique needs a worker may face, employers can mitigate claims costs by reducing or eliminating time loss from work while facilitating a safe and successful return to full duties. As a […]
Tick Tock – Time’s Running Out!
Starting to feel a little stressed? The deadline is looming! Every year, across Canada, employers are required to report their payroll earnings to their respective provincial or territorial workers’ compensation board (WCB). The WCB then uses the reported amounts to establish the premium assessment for each employer. Workers’ compensation boards are funded by employer contributions, or premiums, that are based on the level of risk associated with their particular industry. Typically, premiums are reflected as a specified dollar amount per $100 of payroll and are calculated based on maximum assessable earnings or the maximum annual earnings on which workers’ compensation premiums can be based. Sounds complicated? You bet! Establishing premiums is a complex, multifactorial process and assessable earnings are only one of many variables that are used in the calculations. Determining what part of payroll earnings are assessable and exactly what needs to be reported can be equally complicated, especially […]
COVID-19 Outbreaks in the Workplace – Who’s Gonna Pay?
As Alberta grapples with the impact of the 3rd wave of COVID-19 infections, there have been a rash of outbreaks in workplaces involving a large number of COVID-19 infections. Transmission, quite clearly, is happening worker to worker and exposure is occurring while they are at work but is this a work-related injury or illness? And if so, how will this affect employers who are already struggling economically to survive the pandemic? If the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is going to accept claims that arise from COVID-19 outbreaks in the workplace, who will bear the brunt of the costs? The WCB acknowledges that COVID-19 is not in itself caused by employment; however, if the work situation/circumstances put a worker at a greater risk of contracting the disease, then the claim would be acceptable. While this may seem reasonable, when put into practise the results are mind boggling. Based on an […]