The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Nova Scotia is taking action to address long-standing challenges in its system, introducing measures to simplify processes, improve outcomes, and hold all parties accountable. The changes come in response to a government review that painted a critical picture of the system’s performance.
“The numbers don’t lie,” said WCB CEO Karen Adams. “Too many injured workers – about 30 percent more than in most other provinces – end up on long-term benefits. That’s unacceptable, and it’s a clear sign the system wasn’t working the way it should.”
WCB Nova Scotia CEO Karen Adams. Photo: WCB NS.
The review identified Nova Scotia as lagging behind the rest of the country in several key areas. Claim processing times were flagged as being too slow, and return-to-work programs were criticized for their ineffectiveness, leaving many injured workers unable to rejoin the workforce.
Adams acknowledged WCB’s role in these outcomes. “We’ve been part of the problem,” she said. “We’ve had some of the worst return-to-work outcomes in the country, and that’s not just a statistic – that’s real people and real families being affected. We needed to change how we do things.”
WCB’s new model includes:
- Improved accountability: Service-level agreements will measure and publicly report on metrics like claim processing times and response rates.
- Employer fines: Companies that fail to cooperate in return-to-work efforts, including providing suitable jobs for injured workers, will face penalties.
- Worker engagement: Injured workers will be required to actively participate in their return-to-work plans.
- Healthcare oversight: Service providers will face stricter monitoring to curb over-treatment of common injuries like strains and sprains.
Adams also highlighted progress in injury prevention, noting that workplace injury rates in the province have steadily declined over the past decade. However, she said that prevention alone isn’t enough. “We’ve made strides in preventing injuries, but when they happen, we have to do better. It’s about acting quickly and making sure everyone – employers, workers, service providers, and WCB – does their part.”
Labour Minister Nolan Young welcomed the reforms, emphasizing their importance for the province’s economic growth. “Nova Scotians expect a system that works for everyone,” he said. “By addressing these longstanding issues, we’re ensuring injured workers are better supported while reducing costs and creating a healthier workforce.”
Adams was candid about the need for transparency moving forward. “We’re holding ourselves accountable in ways we never have before,” she said. “We’ll be reporting regularly, and Nova Scotians will be able to see how we’re doing, whether it’s how fast we process claims or how many people are successfully returning to work.”
With the province’s workforce growing, WCB’s role has become even more critical. “We can’t afford to let people fall through the cracks anymore,” Adams said. “These changes are about making sure the system works for everyone – workers, employers, and the province as a whole.”
Adams says as changes are implemented WCB’s success can be best judged by their quarterly reports which provide data on things like workplace-related injuries and how long it takes those injured to return to work.
