While supporting the WSIB’s approach to align Temporary Employment Agency (TEA) rates with the rates of their clients’ classes, the Clinic details why the proposed modification to create an exception for “clerical labour” is not appropriate…
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The Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic (IWC) invites you to the Know Your Rights Workshop on November 30th at 11am. After our first Know Your Rights Workshop on how to navigate WSIB, we heard your feedback: you want more workshops, and would like events that focus on specific topics.
WORKSHOP 2: What happens if I have a longer term injury and am unable to work?
After a quick rundown of WSIB benefits overall (What benefits am I entitled to? How do I get them? etc.), we will focus on:
- Loss of Earrings Benefits (such as long term benefits recalculations, cost of living increases)
- Non-Economic Loss Benefits (what do I get once it is determined my injury is permanent?)
- Healthcare Benefits (how long can I keep getting coverage for treatment and medications?)
- Loss of Retirement Income Benefits (what are they? how do I get them?)
We know how complex the system is, and how it often leaves injured workers in the dark. Throughout the workshop, we will hear from experts as they guide injured workers on the different procedures, forms, benefits and timelines, after an injury from the workplace.
We will also give you information and invite you to join in a University of Waterloo study on injured worker poverty in retirement years.
You can attend in-person or virtually (zoom). If you plan to attend – online or in person – we ask that you RSVP by clicking HERE or this link: https://forms.gle/yQFZFcpj4wJstwBp7
The in-person workshop will be at the IWC office: 815 Danforth Avenue, suite 411, Toronto.
**Note: this workshop does not provide 1-on-1 case advice, though it will include information about where you can find that**
Submission notes that almost all of the benefits outlined in the Independent Living Policy Suite legally (under ss. 32, 33 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act) are and should continue to be available to all injured workers – not only those defined by the WSIB as “severely impaired.” Brief also makes recommendations on criteria for admittance, cost and amount of the Independent Living Allowance, timing and review of benefit availability.
The Injured Workers Community Legal Clinic (IWC) invites you to the Know Your Rights Workshop on October 26, 2022 at 11am. The first workshop of many will focus on an introduction to the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) – we know how complex the system is, and often, leaves injured workers in the dark. Throughout the workshop, we will hear from experts as they guide injured workers on the different procedures, forms, benefits and timelines, after an injury from the workplace.
The workshop will take place after the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) has had its general meeting. We will hear from the new ONIWG leadership and injured workers will also have a chance to share their experiences and find a place of solidarity and understanding.
You can attend in person or virtually (zoom). If you plan to attend – online or in person – we ask that you RSVP by clicking HERE or this link: https://forms.gle/AmeyfdtvWE2WYUY86.
The workshop will be at the IWC office: 815 Danforth Avenue, suite 411, Toronto.
If the government follows through with increasing wage loss benefits from 85% to 90% of net lost wages for workers injured on the job who can’t return to work, it would simply be restoring these benefits to their previous levels.
As IWC caseworkers Chris Grawey and Tebasum Durrani explain in a Toronto Star op-ed, “Ontario must increase pay to injured workers”, the cut to loss of earning benefits in 1997 was justified by the government on the grounds that the workers’ compensation system was facing a financial crisis. Yet, at the same time employer-paid premiums, which finance the WSIB, were slashed and continue to be reduced and rebates given while workers have seen little additional financial support from the provincial government or the WSIB….. [read full article]
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The Clinic’s position has long been that the experience rating system is ineffective in improving health and safety, and encourages claims suppression. Until eliminated, submission recommends that temporary employment agencies move to their new applicable premium rate established by the WSIB.