According to a July 15 news release, new “return-to-work” legislation is now in effect, requiring “workers injured on the job and their employers to work together for a timely and safe return to work.”
The new Duty to Co-operate legislation, part of the province’s Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act, was introduced and passed back in September.
“It is one of several steps the Province has taken to improve the workers’ compensation system and help workers recover and stay connected to their workplace after a workplace injury,” states the release.
The new legislation requires collaboration between workers, their employers and the Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia (WCB Nova Scotia) in supporting “an early and safe return to work.”
“Employers are expected to offer meaningful accommodations, such as the type of work available, and maintain open communication, while workers are expected to participate in planning for a safe return, which may include helping identify suitable work.”
Meanwhile, WCB Nova Scotia will help guide the process and ensure those involved adhere to their respective responsibilities.
Nova Scotia Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Nolan Young said the new legislation is about making a safe return to work part of the recovery process.
“We know that when workers stay connected to the workplace after an injury, they recover better and have better long-term outcomes,” said Young in a statement.
This change to the laws reflects recommendations from a 2024 review of the province’s workers’ compensation system.
The release notes that workers in Nova Scotia are returning to work “more slowly than they were a decade ago.”
“Nova Scotia has the lowest return-to-work rates and one of the longest claim durations in Canada, averaging 168 days in 2022,” it states.
Specifically, 46 per cent returned to the job within 30 days in 2022 — down from 52 per cent in 2012. And 81 per cent returned to work within 180 days — down from 88 per cent.
A worker’s connection to their job is important, it states.
“Workers have better physical, psychological and financial outcomes when they stay connected to work during recovery.”
According to WCB Nova Scotia, there were 20,487 workplace injuries in the province in 2023, with 5,217 of them resulting in the worker having to take three or more days off.
But injuries are not always physical.
Interestingly, WCB Nova Scotia found psychological injury “due to acute reactions to traumatic event(s)” increased in 2023, with 159 workers hurt in this manner. This represented an increase from 2022, when 135 were impacted in this way.
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