Re-Employment Obligation in Place for Manitoba Employers

New provisions regarding the re-employment of injured workers have come into effect for workplace injuries that happen on or after January 1, 2007. Known as the Re-employment Obligation, these requirements spell out the responsibilities involved in helping workers make a safe and healthy return to work.

The Government of Manitoba proclaimed the Re-employment Obligation as a result of recent amendments to The Workers Compensation Act. The WCB consulted on the process for implementing the legislation during the spring of 2006 with a broad range of stakeholder groups and the general public. Meetings were held in Brandon, Thompson and Winnipeg.

In August, 2006, the WCB Board of Directors passed an updated Return to Work policy that incorporates the essential elements of the existing policy and provides guidance and interpretation of the Re-employment Obligation. WCB staff members have visited workplaces and distributed educational materials to workers, employers, their representative groups, and healthcare practitioners. An additional Return to Work Coordinator has been added to support the awareness & education initiative.

“We want Manitoba workers to make a safe and healthy return to work,” says Doug Sexsmith, WCB President and CEO. “The Re-employment Obligation sets out a clear direction to ensure that everyone involved understands their roles and responsibilities.”

Manitoba employers now have a mandate to develop and expand the practice of re-employing workers following a workplace injury or illness. This includes modifying duties or making reasonable changes to the workplace in order to accommodate the needs of injured workers, recognizing that certain business or human resource circumstances may require changes to a worker’s employment status. Employers who fail to comply with the Re-employment Obligation may be subject to an administrative penalty.

The Manitoba WCB is a mutual injury and disability insurance agency governed by a Board of Directors representing employers, workers and the public interest and funded by employer premiums. The WCB insures approximately 70% of the workers in Manitoba, employed by over 24,000 registered employers.

For more information contact:

Warren Preece

Director of Communications

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba

(204)-954-4113

1-800-362-3340

Email:  wcb@wcb.mb.ca