Workers’ Compensation: Managing and Mitigating Energy Sector Claim Costs
The following blog post is published in the 2023 Saskatchewan Energy Report. You might think the oil & gas industry would be high on the list of the most dangerous occupations in Canada, but in fact, according to Avetta’s research (which used statistics from 2017-2019), the energy sector actually comes in 10th on the list. While this might seem like good news — and speaks to the industry’s adherence to safety principles — the reality is that work-related accidents and incidents still happen, and the associated costs of workers’ compensation claims are a significant concern for employers. For most employers, work-related injuries and illnesses are a harsh reality of doing business, and not just because of the lost productivity that is involved, but for financial reasons as well. Disruption of operations is one ramification of an on-the-job accident or incident, but the cost of every Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) claim […]
Mental Health in the Workplace – Tips and facts for a healthy workforce
Canada will be activating a three-digit number for suicide prevention on November 30, 2023. If you’d like to know more about this, please visit the Government of Canada website. If you are in Canada and you, or someone you know, need help now, please continue to call 1.833.456.4566 any time, or text 45645 between 4 p.m. and midnight ET. Blue Monday, possibly the saddest day of the year, was January 16th and Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 25th. We are heading into the depths of winter and into the fourth year of dealing with the physical, financial and emotional impact of the COVID pandemic. It’s no wonder everyone is talking about mental health. The recent focus on the awareness and acceptance of mental illness and the effects that stress has on our overall well being only highlights the connection between workplace safety and a psychologically healthy work environment. ‘Blue […]
So Long 2022! What’s in Store for 2023?
For many it’s good-bye and good riddance with the promise of a better year to come. For others, especially employers, this will continue to be unprecedented times as the world, and the economy, finds its new equilibrium. Rising inflation, interest rates and production costs combined with managing a workforce, whether it is new hires, returning workers, remote working, hybrid work setups or health and safety modifications, the challenges facing employers are significant. So as we head into 2023, here are three major things to consider: WCB Premiums. Workers compensation boards across the county have recently issued their premium rate statements. The impact that the pandemic has had on operations over the past couple of years could affect how a business should be classified. A careful review of your premium calculations could uncover hidden savings Not sure what to look for, here are 10 things to check on your premium rate […]
How We Can Use What COVID Has Taught Us to Combat the Flu Season this Year
There is no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our world permanently and in ways we could not have even imagined. It has changed the way we interact, the way we work, the way we play, the way we live. It has forced us to think outside the box and to be creative in our approach to many things we once considered routine. As we move from the pandemic to endemic stage and life begins to normalize to a world where we learn to live with COVID, we shouldn’t lose sight of the positives that have evolved during this period – and yes there are positives; every dark cloud has a silver lining. So how can we take what we have learned from COVID and use it to our advantage? In an attempt to remain solvent following the March 2020 lockdown, many organizations scrambled to figure how their employees […]
How’s Your Health & Safety Management Program?
You can’t scrimp on safety! We are all aware that the workforce, across all sectors, has undergone significant upheaval over the past couple of years mainly due to COVID-19 and the impact of a global pandemic. We’ve learned how to work remotely, work creatively, and to think outside the box. We’ve been stressed out, zoomed out, and burned out. There has been an unparalleled number of resignations and retirements in virtually every industry as the labor force has reassessed their lifestyle and priorities. This, combined with the lockdowns, shutdowns and business closures caused by the pandemic, saw the 2020 unemployment rates rise to levels not seen in over 20 years. As the economy started to recover, there were a plethora of job postings and hiring opportunities throughout every industry and a pool of unemployed workers available to fill the positions. As a result, the May 2022 unemployment rate is now […]