On December 14, 2017, Bill 177, Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017, received Royal Assent. Bill 177 is omnibus legislation which amends several statutes, including the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Pension Benefits Act and the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act. Workplace Safety and Insurance…
Practice Area: Workplace Safety & Insurance
Ontario Announces Intention to Add Nurses as First Responders for Purpose of WSIB PTSD Presumption
On December 6, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced that it intends to add nurses who provide direct patient care to the list of “first responders” who benefit from a presumption of work-relatedness if they develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The change is aimed at expediting front-line nurses’ access to benefits and timely treatment…
WSIB Rate Framework Policy Consultation Extended (Again)
As we previously reported, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board launched a public consultation on draft policies for the new Rate Framework, which is scheduled to be implemented on January 1, 2020. In October 2017, the deadline for submissions for the Rate Framework Policy Consultation was extended to December 5, 2017. The deadline for submissions…
Bill 177 Introduces Transitional Provisions for WSIB Mental Stress, Increased Fines under OHSA
On November 14, 2017, the Ontario government introduced Bill177, the Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2017, omnibus legislation which, if passed, would amend several employment-related statutes. In this FTR Now, we discuss the proposed changes to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
FTR Quarterly – Issue 7
In This Issue Extended EI Benefits – Top 3 Ways Your Workplace Could be Affected FTRQ&A – Chronic Mental Stress Pension Plan Funding Reform: At the Precipice Pension, Benefits & Executive Compensation Featured Articles Extended EI Benefits – Top 3 Ways Your Workplace Could be Affected By: Henry Dinsdale A number of recent changes to the…
Medical Marijuana in the Workplace [Video]
With an increasing number of employees receiving prescriptions for medical marijuana to treat various ailments, employers and service providers are grappling with how to respond. In this video, Jacqueline Luksha discusses the implications of medical marijuana in the workplace and at places of business, touching on the duties of employers and service providers to accommodate medical marijuana’s use while ensuring a safe work environment. To assist employers and service providers, she provides some best practices on how to meet those obligations.
WSIB Issues Final Chronic Mental Stress Policy: What Employers Need to Know
Recent amendments to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (WSIA) will expand the scope of benefit entitlement for mental stress to include chronic mental stress. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has just issued the final version of its operational policy in support of this new entitlement. This expanded entitlement will have significant consequences for employers – read more for what you, as an employer, need to know..
WSIB Rate Framework Policy Consultation Extended
As we previously reported, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has launched a public consultation on draft policies for the new Rate Framework, which will be implemented on January 1, 2020. The deadline for submissions on the Rate Framework Policy Consultation has been extended from October 13, 2017 to December 5, 2017. Submissions can be…
WSIB Announces 2018 Premium Rates
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has announced its 2018 premium rates and has approved a 3.3% reduction to the average premium rate for next year. Any increases in premium rates will relate only to costs arising from the chronic mental stress (CMS) amendment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, which comes into…
WSIB Schedule 1 Regulation Amended
On August 31, 2017, the Ontario government filed O. Reg. 348/17 amending O. Reg. 175/98 (General) made under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997. The regulation makes changes to certain industries in which Schedule 1 employers are liable to contribute to the Insurance Fund. Among other things, amendments to Class G – Construction: maintain…