If an employee is injured at work, there are responsibilities on both the employee and the employer when a claim is made through the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB). It is important to note that all workers have a right to make a WCB claim if they are hurt at work and that it is against the law for an employer or supervisor to ask an employee not to report an injury.
The first step is to inform your employer of your injury. Try to give as much detail as possible if you are able to immediately. In the event your treatment requires more than basic first aid, you miss time from work or need your job duties adjusted beyond the day of accident, your employer is legally obligated to report your injury within 3-5 days, depending on the province of the incident. The sooner they know about it, the better.
Next is to get your doctor, physiotherapist and/or chiropractor involved by informing them you were injured at work. Depending on the injury, it is vital to get the proper medical attention to ensure your health does not get worse. Your medical team is also legally required to report your injury to WCB within 48 hours.
After your employer and doctor(s) are aware and have submitted a report to the WCB, communicate with WCB for next steps. They will confirm with you the events leading up to the injury, create a plan that will help you recover and assist with your transition when you are ready to go back to work.
The employee’s responsibilities do not here. After filing a claim, there are a number of duties you should be on top of:
- Maintaining regular contact with your employer and your Workers’ Compensation Board
- Following the treatment plans your health care provider(s) sets up for you
- Going to all of your medical appointments as required
- Remaining transparent with your doctor(s) about progress to ease the transition of returning to work
- Informing your WCB of any changes in your medical recovery
- Cooperating with your employer and WCB in regards to your return-to-work plan. Put in active effort towards your return-to-work planning so your employer can identify suitable job duties while you are recovering
- Telling your WCB when your doctor clears you to return to work, or if you stop working or need to change your duties because of your injury
It’s important to be aware of what the claims process for your Workers’ Compensation Board entails and what action is required of the worker. If you are unaware of what your current WCB’s processes or requirements are, research or check with your employer to stay informed.