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WCB Accident Fund Surplus: Have Your Say

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Law,WCB Premium Reduction,Worker's Compensation Board | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on December 20, 2016

As part of the government directed WCB Review currently underway in Alberta, the Review Panel is taking a closer look at WCB-Alberta’s Accident Fund and how it is managed. This has been a topic of discussion in recent workshops and the Panel is very keen on getting as much input as possible from stakeholders. WCB Accident Fund The Accident Fund is established from Employer Premiums. The WCB is funded through premiums assessed to employers. There are no tax dollars or employee payroll deductions involved in the workers’ compensation system. Each year the WCB establishes the premiums that employers will pay. These rates are set so that the total premiums collected in the current year will pay for all estimated present and future costs of claims that occur during that year. Based on the overall amount of premiums that need to be collected, the WCB determines premium rates for each industry […]

Worker’s Compensation Board Under Review

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Law,WCB Premium Reduction,Worker's Compensation Board | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on December 5, 2016

In March 2016, the Alberta Government announced that it would be conducting a review of the province’s workers’ compensation system. Although the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is not a government agency per se, the WCB was created by the Alberta Government to administer the Workers’ Compensation Act and as such, is responsible to ensure the WCB is operating as fairly, efficiently and effectively as possible. To that end, an independent three-member panel is conducting a formal review of the entire workers’ compensation system, including the WCB, the Appeals Commission and the Medical Panel Office. As part of the review, the Panel is looking at how things are done, how effective the process is, what is working, what is not, what needs to be improved and what needs to be changed. From June 6, 2016 to July 15, 2016, the Review Panel asked for input from Albertans to share their opinions […]

Beyond the Dispute Resolution & Decision Review Board: Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers’ Compensation

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Law,WCB Lawsuit Settlements | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on September 26, 2016

So the WCB-Alberta has made a decision on an injured worker’s claim and, as the employer, you do not agree with the decision. You have talked to the WCB decision maker, likely a Claim Manager or Claims Adjudicator, without success. You have discussed the issue with a supervisor, have had no luck with the Dispute Resolution and Decision Review Board(DRDRB) and still you are not in agreement with the decision that was made. What can you do now? Is there another level of appeal? Is there a way to get an impartial hearing to voice your grievance? The WCB Appeals Commission: The Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers’ Compensation is exactly that. The WCB Appeals Commission (AC) is the final level appeal for decisions made by the DRDRB and the most formal of all levels of appeal. It is a quasi-judicial tribunal established by and operating under the Alberta Workers’ Compensation […]

WCB Dispute Resolution and Decision Review Board

Posted in: Claims Costs,WCB Law,WCB Lawsuit Settlements | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on August 23, 2016

Although the WCB Alberta is committed to making fair decisions on claims, with rationale that is understood by all interested parties, not everyone is always in agreement when a decision is made. Every WCB claim is different because each work-related accident is unique unto itself. There are enough similarities in the types of accident, types of injury, methods of treatment, durations of disability and return to work plans that allow claims to be processed within structured WCB policies, procedures and guidelines. However, these standards and protocols do not always allow for the individual nuances and circumstances of a claim to be taken into consideration when decisions are made. What happens when an employer disagrees with a decision made on an injured worker’s claim or doesn’t understand the reason why a decision was made? Every employer has the right to question and request a review of any decision made on a […]

What is a GAP Analysis?

Posted in: Claims Costs,Safety,WCB Law,WCB Premium Reduction,Workplace | Posted by Rebecca Ingram on July 21, 2016

In management literature, gap analysis involves the comparison of actual performance with potential or desired performance. If an organization does not make the best use of current resources, or forgoes investment in capital or technology, it may produce or perform below its potential.* In reference to the Certificate of Recognition (COR) in Alberta, gap analysis is used to evaluate an employer’s current Health and Safety Management System practices. Gap Analysis will help an employer by highlighting areas that are compliant with standards and identifying areas that need improvement in meeting the requirements to earn or renew a COR. Joining the Partnerships in Injury Reductions (PIR) program indicates that your organization has chosen to take a leadership role in workplace health and safety, however there are no financial benefits to being a Partner unless you have a COR. Upon obtaining and maintaining a COR, a Partner becomes eligible for potential rebates. Whether […]

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