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 […]
BCL – Our 30th Year in Business
It all began some 30 years ago… when two former WCB employees got to chatting with an HR specialist, a lawyer and a paralegal and came up with an interesting business concept that could potentially save Alberta organizations money: What if they could provide unprecedented representation and consultation to Alberta employers on all matters pertaining to workers’ compensation? An article about BCL from Heavy Construction News, published 30 years ago, in 1989 As much as the WCB was (and is) focused on compensating and assisting injured workers, the financial foundation for the workers’ compensation system was funding provided through WCB premiums from Alberta employers. There were plenty of resources to support workers with issues related to entitlement, benefits and appeals — including worker advocates and the Office of the Appeals Advisor — but the same was not true for employers. Businesses were largely left on their own to figure out […]
International RSI Awareness Day 2018
Over 2.3 million Canadian adults are diagnosed and learning to cope with repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) or musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) each year and this number is increasing steadily. The impact of these injuries and disorders, not only on the individuals involved but on our society as a whole is enormous, which is why the last day of February has been recognized as International RSI Awareness Day. These injuries and disorders can be crippling, seriously affecting the ability to work or even perform daily activities. They often develop slowly, over time and although there is some discussion about the direct cause, it is generally accepted that work-related activities can be a contributing factor to the onset, severity, and location of an RSI or MSD. The overuse of muscles in the hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, and back are linked to RSI symptoms. The use of vibrating tools, forceful movements, repetitive actions […]