New legislation for employers and those injured on the job to collaborate on returning to work safely.
The province says it is known as the Duty-to-Cooperate and is part of the Stronger Workplaces for Nova Scotia Act passed in September 2024.
Employers are expected to offer accommodations, such as the type of work available to an injured employee, as well as keeping open lines of communication while they recover.
Labour Minister Nolan Young tells reporters, Tuesday morning, the changes come after a review of the system last year, for the first time in over two decades.
He says they spoke to various groups including injured workers, employers, labour groups and safety associations.
“What we learned was clear. Returning to work after a workplace injury is a big challenge in Nova Scotia. Too many workers are staying off the job for too long, when they’re injured,” says Young. “Too many employers are unsure what to do to help and too often, people are not getting the support they need to return and recover. And that’s not good enough.”
New expectations
Karen Adams, CEO of the Workers Compensation Board says, there is now a clear definition of roles and responsibilities and a focus on accountability.
“Employers are expected to reach out to their workers right away…to establish a return-to-work plan immediately, and offer safe, suitable, available work,” says Adams.
Some of the onus, she says, does lie on the injured workers too.
“To participate in their own recovery, to stay connected to work and to accept appropriate work opportunities that are safe,” adds Adams.
For those who do not cooperate in the process, she says, there will be consequences like no longer receiving workers compensation.
Nova Scotia currently has one of the lowest return-to-work rates and one of the longest claim durations in Canada at 168 days in 2022.
