Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions related to the Employer Advisory Centre.
Similar to the FPO (Fair Practice Office) or IWAS (Injured Worker Appeal Service), the new Employer Advisory Centre is an independent service in that its processes will focus on assisting employers with education and assistance for disability prevention and appeal processes. This will include education and support to determine if there is a legitimate appealable situation with coaching and assistance in writing appeal submissions to the WCB.
No. Although this will be the primary focus, the intention is to also focus on education, support and appeals assistance where needed to support employers within the province. If other support needs are identified, these would be supported at that time.
A key objective is to work directly with employers and help them through the claims and appeals process. At any time during the three-step appeals process below, the employer advisor will be available to help support employers.
The WCB received recommendations from employers in the 2016 and 2022 Committee of Review (COR) reports requesting it address certain supports that were not as readily available to the employers who fund the workers’ compensation system.
These suggestions centered around the need to have an employer advisory centre to support employers throughout the appeals process in the same manner as that available to injured workers. A jurisdictional scan was also conducted, and Saskatchewan was found to be one of the only provinces that did not have employer advisory services established. It is noted that in some provinces, employers have had such services available for decades. Therefore, it was decided to establish this new independent service in Saskatchewan to provide support to the employers.
Fairness will be assured through adherence to the natural laws of justice and internal checks for unbiased treatment to all employers.
Were it not for a conflict of interest in questioning the Board Appeals Tribunal decisions on behalf of employers, this office would report directly to the board [three of whom sit on the Board Appeals Tribunal] in the same manner as the Fair Practices Office. To avoid this conflict of interest, the manager of the Employer Advisory Centre will report directly to the vice president of WCB’s employer services department.
The Employer Advisory Centre will not accept appeals on decisions that are over two years old. The staff of the Employer Advisory Center will not be representing employers directly in any appeal process but rather will offer support and guidance at all stages of the appeals journey.
Staff working for the Employers Advisory Centre are subject to the same rules and expectations in relation to privacy and confidentiality of personal information as any other employee of the WCB, Fair Practices Office, or other departments and organizations such as the Injured Worker’s Appeal Service.