2024 Q1 Overview

WCB Nova Scotia Charts New Course to Protect More

“It takes too long in our province to achieve safe and timely return to work after workplace injury, and we need to improve our service. This Strategic Plan will get us there.” – Karen Adams, CEO

WCB Nova Scotia’s new Strategic Plan aims to better protect the Nova Scotia workforce, through needed service improvements and by reducing the time lost to workplace injury in our province. With a more sustainable funding environment than ever before, the WCB sees opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the workers and employers they serve.

“We’re talking about protecting against more kinds of workplace injury, especially psychological injury. About protecting more employers, who will choose to work with us. And about protecting more Nova Scotians, earlier and better, from the human and financial impact of workplace injury and illness, in all of its forms,” says WCB CEO Karen Adams.

The plan has three main priorities: Preventing workplace injury, supporting safe and healthy return to work, and providing exceptional service.

Recent changes to make gradual onset psychological injury compensable, and the improvement of funeral benefits, are just two examples of the kind of change that’s needed in the system, says the WCB. But just as important is the WCB’s need to deliver on new service agreements, like issuing decisions sooner, and promptly returning calls and messages.

“Over the past year, I’ve come to understand this province is full of people who want a better future,” Adams says. “This plan is how we will do our part to make that future happen. It’s about a vision for the future where workers’ compensation provides the value Nova Scotians have come to expect.”

Adams adds that she personally attended several consultation sessions for the ongoing public review of workers’ compensation, where she heard a lot about the need for service improvements.

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She says the WCB looks forward to the results of the review, and to incorporating recommendations into the path forward.

Learn more about WCB Nova Scotia’s plan to protect more working Nova Scotians, here:

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