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WCB Q&A
How does the WCB work with a
company’s modified program,
particularly in cases where a
worker has left their employment?
PG: Our goal is to have every worker recover
and return to work. Modified programs available
for injured workers who left their employment
would be dependent on different factors.
If the worker left because they were laid off,
we would continue to manage that claim until
the individual had recovered to their preinjury
work condition. The claim would then
be closed, other than possibly some medical
costs. If they were no longer working for
that employer, and they had reached their pre-
injury work ability, we would help them find
a new job. If the injury is so severe that they
needed permanent restrictions, we would wait
until the claim stabilized so we could understand
the nature of the restrictions. After that,
we would start to consider different vocational
options for the worker.
If a worker voluntarily leaves a modified
return-to-work program, or basically refuses a
medically-approved modified work program,
it could put their benefits in jeopardy. The only
reason I’m saying “could” is because we’re
assuming that individual would get their benefits
cut off just by refusing to return to work.
That’s not necessarily taking into account other
complicating factors that can be a result of the
injury, such as mental health issues. Sometimes
people’s lives are turned upside down because of
the impact associated with a work injury.
Many employers have good
return-to-work programs that are
not being utilized because case
workers seem primarily focussed
on the employee. What is being
done to ensure physicians are
aware of employer’s returnto
work programs so that they
can prescribe the appropriate
modified work duties and
expedite a safe return to work?
PG: Ideally, we want to start with return-towork
as the end goal and work backwards to
figure out how we’re going to get there. Getting
the individual back to work, even in a modified
work setting, is what’s best for both the worker
and the employer. Our staff make every effort
to ensure they keep healthcare providers aware
that modified work is available and that we’re
striving to get the current work restrictions
from that healthcare provider. We get that information
to the employer to help facilitate an
early and safe return to work. Some of this is a
ROMAN FEDIN / 123RF
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