Benefits of a Modified Duties Program
It has been well established that the sooner a worker can safely return to work after an injury or illness, the better it is for all parties concerned especially the injured worker. The shorter the recovery, the faster a worker can return to normal, the less of an impact the injury has on a worker financially, physically and emotionally and the less of a disruption it has on the organization. It may seem like a simple equation but the finding the right balance returning to an injured worker back to work can be difficult and challenging. Bringing them back too soon runs the risk of relapse, recurrence or new injury, resulting in higher claims costs. Missing the window to safely reintegrate a worker back into the workforce can delay claim management and also increase costs. An established Modified Duties Program is a proactive approach that can prevent unnecessary time loss […]
Independent Contractors and WCB Premiums Explained
As an independent contractor in Alberta, it is not always safe to assume that you have WCB coverage through the general contractor that hired you. For most industries, worker’s compensation coverage is required by law however there are some industries that are exempt from mandatory coverage. There are also separate responsibilities and guidelines for employers when hiring contractors or subcontractors that may impact coverage. Therefore, it is important to determine what industry you are working in, whether coverage is mandatory for that industry, how your independent contracting business is operated and ultimately who is responsible for paying the WCB premiums for your coverage. In this blog we explain the relationship and responsibilities between independent contractors and WCB premiums. An employer is responsible for contractors and subcontractors worker’s compensation insurance unless the contractor or subcontractor: Have their own valid WCB-Alberta account Is operating as a corporation Is performing the work as: […]