From Policy to Practice Preparing for Duty to Cooperate

Summary:

  • Introduces the new Duty to Cooperate legislation effective July 15, requiring workers, employers, and WCB to actively collaborate throughout the return-to-work process.
  • Explains the shared responsibilities: workers must stay in contact, participate in planning, and accept suitable work; employers must maintain communication, offer modified duties, and document efforts to support recovery.
  • Highlights WCB’s role in monitoring cooperation, facilitating communication, and addressing non-compliance, which could result in benefit suspension for workers or cost implications for employers.
  • Provides examples and scenarios illustrating what cooperation and non-cooperation look like, emphasizing early and ongoing communication between all parties.
  • Encourages employers and workers to use WCB’s resources and support tools to understand expectations and promote safe, timely return-to-work outcomes.

Intended Audience:

  • Employers, HR professionals, safety coordinators, and workers involved in return-to-work or modified duty programs under the WCB Nova Scotia system.

Who it’s for:

  • Employers, HR professionals, safety coordinators, and workers

What you'll learn:

  • About the new Duty to Cooperate legislation effective July 15
  • How workers, employers, and WCB must collaborate throughout the return-to-work process
  • Workers' responsibilities: stay in contact, participate in planning, and accept suitable work
  • Employers' responsibilities: maintain communication, offer modified duties, and document efforts to support recovery
  • WCB’s role in monitoring cooperation, facilitating communication, and addressing non-compliance
  • Penalty of non compliance for both workers and employers
  • Examples of what cooperation and non-cooperation look like, emphasizing early and ongoing communication