Workers and employers have rights and responsibilities when it comes to maintaining a workplace that is physically and psychologically safe, and to supporting recovery from a workplace injury.
Supporting Mental Health Conversations
Often, it's easier to talk about the injuries we see than the ones we can't.
Learning about how to create and maintain a psychologically safe and healthy workplace is something both workers and employers can do to prevent injuries from happening in the first place, and to support those with a psychological injury.
As leaders and as co-workers, the important thing is to keep the conversation going. Be sure to check out WCB’s Psychological Health and Safety Resource Centre for materials to help you get started.
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Worker
Just as you have the right to a workplace free of physical hazards, you also have the right to work in a psychologically safe workplace. And you also share the responsibility to help keep your workplace physically and psychologically safe for your coworkers.
If you are injured at work, you have the responsibility to follow the advice of your health care providers, stay connected with your employer and case worker—and when you’re ready, return to work as soon as possible with modified duties if necessary.
Get information on creating a psychologically safe workplace.
Your Responsibilities as an Employer
If you are an employer in Nova Scotia, you are responsible for keeping your workplace free of physical and psychological safety hazards. And you also have a responsibility to support workers if they have been injured in your workplace – either physically or psychologically.
Employers need to be comfortable talking to their employees about mental health challenges in the workplace and be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of declining mental health.
Assessing and providing accommodation needs for workers are key to maintaining a psychologically safe and healthy workplace, as is developing return-to-work strategies for employees who take a leave of absence due to their mental health.
Learn more about return-to-work tools and supports for psychologically safe and healthy workplaces: