While IWC is committed to providing one on one supports to low-income injured workers, there are simply not enough resources to individually help everyone who needs it. As a result, the clinic also works to increase public knowledge about workers compensation, and to empower the injured worker community.
Workers’ compensation is a very specific and complicated part of the law. Many law schools don’t even cover the subject. As a result, it can be very hard to find help within your community. The best way to get what you need when you are injured at work is to know your rights, responsibilities, and entitlements.
IWC works with diverse community partners around the province to organize and lead workshops for injured workers on a variety of compensation-related topics to help them navigate the workers’ compensation system. By increasing “workers’ compensation literacy” through this educational outreach, IWC aims to increase the chances that compensations claims get off to a good start.
- The Clinic hosts monthly injured worker drop ins, which include an educational component and a community organizing and discussion component. These meetings are generally the fourth Wednesday of every month, but check the calendar here for details: https://injuredworkersonline.org/events/calendar-view/
IWC regularly makes presentations to political parties and individual MPPs, allies in organized labour, and community partners about common issues facing injured workers. These clinic also shares these concerns through its written reports, conference papers, fact sheets, and blog posts – and sometimes even through educational theatre and skits.
Additionally, the clinic often liaises with local, provincial, and national media to increase the public’s knowledge about the struggles faced by those who become ill or injured on the job.
If your organization would benefit from a better understanding of workers compensation policy, or the issues faced by injured workers, please contact us.
