This month we honour fallen workers
April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning in Canada — a day to remember and honour those workers who have lost their lives or suffered injuries on the job. It’s an important reminder of the ongoing need to prioritize workplace safety and prevent future tragedies. We must all do our part to prioritize workplace safety, whether by speaking up about hazards, following safety protocols and guidelines, or advocating for better policies and regulations. Together, we can create a safer and more just workplace for all. According to the latest data from the Government of Alberta, from 2023 to 2024 Alberta’s workforce increased to 2,518,900 workers, a 3.1 per cent increase, and in 2024 WCB Alberta accepted 49,831 claims, of which 75 percent were modified-work claims and 56 percent were lost-time claims. The disabling injury and illness in 2024 were the lowest in the past five-years, the government’s records show, […]
What you need to know about EPRS statements
If you are an Alberta employer, you should have received your Employer Premium Rate Statement sometime in December or possibly late November (if you didn’t, you might want to check the Workers’ Compensation Board online portal and/or your email). If you’re new to the process, here’s a quick recap on how it works: Every year from the end of November to mid-December, WCB Alberta sends out its premium rate statements. This document tells all employers in Alberta who have a registered WCB account how much they will pay for WCB coverage the next year. Depending on your company’s track record with injuries and claims, combined with your industry’s overall injury rates, the increase to your premium rates could be significant, or you could be given a discount on your previous rate. In the WCB’s 2026 Premium Rates Highlight sheet, it says that the board is several years into a multi-year […]
Time to register for WCB Alberta’s Partnership in Injury Reduction program
Annual Experience Rating statements will be released soon for employers across Canada, so it’s a good time to review some of the ways in which you can reduce your future WCB premium rates. Obviously, one way is to not have as many claims, since your WCB claims from the three preceding years are used to calculate your premium rate. So for next year (2026) the number and costs associated with the claims you had in 2022, 2023 and 2024 will determine what you pay in terms of a premium rate. There is one additional way in which Alberta employers can reduce their premium rate, and that is to take part in the WCB’s Partnership in Injury Reduction program. In order to do so, you have to register no later than December 31, 2025. The benefit can be significant: If you qualify, you can get a refund of up to 20 […]
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 […]
Why it’s crucial to have an employer representative who specializes in WCB claims
Navigating the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) system can be challenging for any company. It’s not just about understanding the specific laws and guidelines — you also need to know precisely when to intervene, when to challenge a decision, and when to step back. Poorly timed actions can lead to significant expenses, including increased labor, higher claims costs, inflated premiums, and reduced output. If you can’t stay on top of the constant changes and actively manage your WCB claims, your organization might end up paying for costs that aren’t even related to compensable injuries, which can drive up your WCB premiums. Because of these complexities, many businesses choose to engage an employer representative who specializes in the WCB system and claims management. Here are some key benefits: Specialized Knowledge Employer representatives who focus on WCB claims bring invaluable expertise. They are intimately familiar with the WCB system’s complexities, including legal requirements, […]