On April 3, 2019, the B.C. Government announced that it will undertake a formal review of its workers’ compensation system with the appointment of retired labour lawyer Janet Patterson. This review is part of the Government’s stated goal to “shift the workers’ compensation system to become more worker centred”. The press release states that the review will assess:
– the system’s policies and practices that support injured workers’ return to work;
– WorkSafeBC’s current policies and practices through a gender- and diversity-based analysis (commonly referred to as GBA+);
– modernization of WorkSafeBC’s culture to reflect a worker-centric service delivery model;
– the case management of injured workers; and
– any potential amendments to the Workers Compensation Act arising from this focused review.
The recent announcement informed employers that there will be public engagement process to ensure that Patterson’s review is informed by feedback from employers, labour organizations and injured workers. The report, including possible recommendations, is due to be delivered to the Government by September 30, 2019.
For any questions about this review or other worker’s compensation matters, please contact Alissa Demerse or Gavin Marshall.