September 23, 2015 at 2:21am MDT, marked the Autumnal Equinox - depending on your point of view, it’s sadly the end of summer or the cheerfully the beginning of fall. Either way, it signifies a change of seasons and as with any change, there comes an increase in risks for accidents or injuries. Two things spring to mind with regard to change at this time of year: fluctuating temperatures and reduced daylight hours.
Monday, September 7th, is Labour Day in Canada, a statutory holiday commonly associated with the end of summer, the last long weekend of the season, the day before school starts and a kind of mini New Year's to start fresh and revisit those resolutions made nine months previously. But somewhere along the line we have lost sight of how Labour Day came about, what it means and why its celebrated.
Topics: workplace
We sit to eat, we sit to drive the car, we sit at our desks to work, we sit to watch tv, we sit watch movies, we sit to watch sports, we sit to play video games, we sit to use computers, tablets and cell phones. No wonder there is growing concern regarding hazards and health risks of a sedentary lifestyle. Be it at work or at play, at home or at the office, the reality is that society as a whole is spending more time sitting down then up on their feet.
Worker’s Compensation isn't just for labourers, or anyone working in a hazardous industry who is subject to physical injuries like broken bones, back sprains, muscle strains and industrial fatalities. Over time, WCB coverage has become much more comprehensive and now, depending on the jurisdiction, up to 90% of the workforce is covered -- including office workers, and the injuries associated with their employment.
Topics: Safety
On June 12th, 2015, the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Saskatchewan announced that they would be refunding $114 million to employers, this follows a May 11, 2015 press release by the Alberta WCB stating that they would be refunding over $500 million due to a declared surplus in their funding. Essentially, they are issuing a rebate on premiums previously paid, which begs the question - why? Have they been caught with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar, lining their pockets at the expense of hard working businesses? Are they so poorly mismanaged that they were unaware how much money they had? If they are handing money back, why not just lower premiums? Are injured workers suffering because money that could provide benefits is being returned to their employer? There is no short answer and in order to understand the rationale, you first need to understand the WCB, why it exists and how it is funded.
Topics: WCB Premium Reduction
