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How to Determine the Cost of WCB Premiums for Your Business: 7 Things You Need to Know

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Law,WCB Premium Reduction,Workplace | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on April 25, 2016

Workers’ compensation is a form of ‘no fault’ insurance for workers injured on the job. It has been a part of the Alberta labour workforce since 1918 when the Workers’ Compensation Act was established. Essentially, employers agreed to pay into a fund that would be used to cover the costs associated with a work-related injury or illness and in return, workers gave up their right to sue their employers as a result of getting sick or hurt on the job. The fund was set up similar to an insurance policy where employers pay annual premiums to the WCB and workers file a claim with the WCB if they were injured as a result of their employment. The premiums collected, managed by the WCB, would then be used to cover the medical expenses, wage loss and other associated claims costs related to the injury. How much employers pay in WCB premiums […]

Workers’ Compensation Lawsuit Settlements Explained

Posted in: WCB Law,WCB Lawsuit Settlements | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on April 19, 2016

On the night of February 26, 2014, a charter plane carrying a number of local government workers crashed on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, killing three people and seriously injuring three more. All six were deemed workers; and as a result, workers’ compensation claims were opened, approved and benefits issued accordingly. On May 2, 2014, a third-party lawsuit was filed against the responsible airline, Maui Air, which remains in litigation. An article, published in The Maui News on March 19, 2016, quoted one crash survivor addressing the Maui County Council, asking them to allow the survivors and the families of the deceased to be awarded all of the settlement money from the lawsuit with the airline. By law, worker’s compensation is set up to be the first payor in the event of a work-related accident or injury, regardless of any other coverage or benefits that may be available to the […]

WCB Bill 6 Information for Farm Owners

Posted in: Claims Costs,Safety | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on April 5, 2016

On January 1, 2016, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, or better known as Bill 6 came into effect in Alberta marking a change in workers’ compensation coverage for farm owners, and the people who work for them. The controversial bill brings Alberta in line with other provinces in Canada that already have legislation covering workers’ compensation, occupational health and safety regulations, employment standards and labour relation codes for farming and ranching industries. As much as Bill 6 represents a burden on farm and ranch owners to put new practices in place and comply with legislative standards and regulations, it provides much needed protection and compensation to non-family farm and ranch employees similar to what is extended to any other employee, and to what is in place in other provinces. It also protects farm and ranch owners from legal action being taken by an injured worker, the […]

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