Workers' Compensation: A spotlight on a clear path for change

Karen Adams' opinion piece on WCB's strengthened path of accountability appeared in Saltwire's print and online publications this week. 

Workers’ compensation: A spotlight on a clear path for change

Workers’ compensation. 

Those two words are not found in the headlines often.

In fact, workers’ compensation is often taken for granted – a backdrop to the working lives of millions of Canadians, and about 350,000 Nova Scotians.

It’s there if it’s needed. But until it is, it’s rarely thought about.

But not in 2024. In 2024, workers’ compensation had a much-needed spotlight cast upon it. And that spotlight illuminated this simple truth: Workers’ benefits are too low in Nova Scotia for the price employers pay for them.

WCB has a plan to fix that problem.

It all starts with prevention, which is always the top priority. That’s why injuries are half what they were when we first took on that role, and why Nova Scotia is a leader in safe workplaces. Employers, who have a responsibility to create a safe workplace, and workers who have a responsibility to work safely, also share in this progress.

The rest of the solution comes down to one word: Accountability.

Who are we holding accountable first? Ourselves, like never before. Every case worker now has clear goals, and they’re closely monitored. Service is consistent. Clear letters are required for every claim decision we make. We publish service standards for nearly everything we do: From answering the phone, to making decisions, to getting people paid. We track progress and publish how we’re doing against our targets.

We are holding employers accountable. More than one third of injuries - and the million working days lost to them – come from just 25 out of 20,000 workplaces we cover. Those workplaces have a job to do when it comes to return to work – especially under the new Duty to Cooperate requirements coming in July. Employers will now face fines if they don’t do their part.

Workers will be held more accountable, too. They also have a duty to cooperate. Reporting an injury to their employer promptly, keeping in touch, helping identify suitable work, and agreeing to it. WCB will hold workers more accountable for their role in return to work, too.

We’re also holding service providers accountable. Most workplace injuries are sprains and strains, and we’re better managing those who treat them, so that workers can return to work safely. For too many years, we have too often allowed seemingly endless physiotherapy treatments, delaying return to work and costing the system millions of dollars. That has come to an end. We are now following the best practices followed by our peers in the rest of Canada.

Those are just a few examples. There will be more changes to make. Some may not be popular. Some will be welcomed. All of them are needed to fix the problem.

Workers are less likely to get injured on the job in Nova Scotia. But they are more likely to go on long-term benefits for life after an injury – far more likely than in any other province. That’s the problem. By holding ourselves accountable, holding employers and workers accountable, and by holding health care providers accountable, we are fixing it.

This accountability is the right thing to do. It’s good for workers, good for employers, and good for Nova Scotia. When we are successful, we can improve worker benefits and reduce employer premiums.

Here’s how.

First, WCB does its job - helps prevent injuries, rallies around the worker if injury does happen, and holds everyone more accountable. As a result, WCB becomes more financially stable, and less expensive.

WCB has control over employer premiums, the government has control over worker benefits. When we work together, both can improve. We can have a balanced approach over time, improving worker benefits and reducing employer rates in tandem, realizing the benefits of a more effective and efficient system.

Workers’ compensation matters.

It deserves the spotlight, and we want to keep it there, as our workforce grows.

Because, after all, we all want the same thing. We all want Nova Scotians working.

Through increased accountability, WCB is now part of the solution to make that happen, rather than part of the problem.

Karen Adams is the CEO of the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia.

More info: WCB Nova Scotia