New Law Aims to Reduce Impact to Workers, Employers After Workplace Injury
A physiotherapist works with a client. The Province has implemented a new process for injured workers returning to the job. (Contributed)
Starting today, July 15, new legislation is in effect that requires workers injured on the job and their employers to work together for a timely and safe return to work.
The return-to-work legislation – known as the Duty to Co-operate – is part of the Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act, introduced and passed in September 2024. It is one of several steps the Province has taken to improve the workers’ compensation system and help workers recover and stay connected to their workplace after a workplace injury.
“These changes are about making return to work part of recovery,” said Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “We know that when workers stay connected to the workplace after an injury, they recover better and have better long-term outcomes.”
The new legislation requires collaboration between employers, workers and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB Nova Scotia) to support an early and safe return to work. Employers are expected to offer meaningful accommodations, such as the type of work available, and maintain open communication, while workers are expected to participate in planning for a safe return, which may include helping identify suitable work. WCB Nova Scotia helps guide the process and ensures all parties are meeting their responsibilities.
Over the past six months, WCB Nova Scotia has worked with employers, workers and healthcare providers to prepare for the change, including offering webinars, tools and resources to help workplaces get ready.
Quotes:
“Research, experience and common sense all tell us the same thing: when it’s safe to do so, staying connected to work helps people recover faster and more fully. Duty to Co-operate is about ensuring no one goes through recovery or return to work alone. Workers want to get back to their lives, and employers want a strong, stable workforce. We believe in that shared goal.”
— Karen Adams, Chief Executive Officer, WCB Nova Scotia
Quick Facts:
- the new legislation reflects key recommendations from the 2024 review of the workers’ compensation system
- Nova Scotia has the lowest return-to-work rates and one of the longest claim durations in Canada, averaging 168 days in 2022
- workers injured on the job in Nova Scotia are returning to work more slowly than they were a decade ago:
- within 30 days – 46 per cent in 2022, down from 52 per cent in 2012
- within 180 days – 81 per cent in 2022, down from 88 per cent in 2012
- workers have better physical, psychological and financial outcomes when they stay connected to work during recovery
- WCB Nova Scotia’s 2024-2030 strategic plan, Protect More, focuses on three key pillars: injury prevention, return to work and exceptional service
Additional Resources:
WCB Nova Scotia – Duty to Co-operate: https://www.wcb.ns.ca/Return-to-Work/Duty-to-Cooperate
WCB Nova Scotia – Protect More strategic plan: https://www.strategicplan.wcb.ns.ca/
News release – Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act Introduced: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/09/05/stronger-workplaces-nova-scotia-act-introduced
Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/PDFs/annual%20statutes/2024%20Fall/c010.pdf