Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions related to the Employer Advisory Centre.
Similar to the Fair Practices Office (FPO) and the Injured Worker Appeal Services (IWAS), the Employer Advisory Centre is an independent service.
It provides education and support to employers on disability prevention, claims management and the appeals process. This includes helping employers determine whether a situation may be appealable, as well as providing guidance on requesting information, identifying relevant policies and procedures and assistance with preparing appeal submissions to the WCB.
No. Appeals are the primary focus, but the Employer Advisory Centre also provides education and support for employers across Saskatchewan on disability prevention, return-to-work resources and claims management.
If employers identify other needs, staff will work with them to address these needs.
The Employer Advisory Centre works directly with employers to help them navigate the claims and appeals process.
Employer advisors are available to provide support at any stage of the three-step appeals process:
Recommendations from employers in the 2016 and 2022 Committee of Review reports identified a need for more support for employers.
A jurisdictional scan also found that most provinces already offer employer advisory services.
As a result, Saskatchewan established this independent service to better support employers.
The Employer Advisory Centre follows principles of natural justice and applies internal checks to ensure fair and unbiased treatment for all employers.
To avoid a conflict of interest when reviewing Board Appeal Tribunal decisions on behalf of employers, the Employer Advisory Centre does not report directly to the WCB’s board members.
Instead, the manager reports to the vice-president of employer services. This structure helps maintain independence while ensuring accountability.
The Employer Advisory Centre does not represent employers in the appeals process and cannot draft or submit appeals on an employer’s behalf. Instead, staff provide support and guidance at all stages, including resources, relevant appeal information and advice on how to communicate it effectively.
Employer Advisory Centre staff follow the same privacy and confidentiality rules as all WCB employees.
Cost relief is a process that may remove some or all claim costs from an employer’s experience rating.
Employers may be eligible when a claim involves a pre-existing condition, secondary injury, occupational disease or a work-related disaster.
Employers may qualify for cost relief in other circumstances. If you are unsure whether a claim qualifies, please contact us.
If you need an update on a claim, please contact us. We are here to help.
We understand this can be complex.
Contact us for information and guidance on your obligations under The Workers’ Compensation Act, 2013 as it relates to the duty to accommodate.