Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Workers Compensation Of Alberta : On the Job Training ( new update)

I will say this is a start,but it is to late; but a good gesture as far as I am concerned, I have tried to gain employment in areas of employment that I felt I could do and it was mainly the way WCB Alberta handled the situation with the employers. The employers were scared to hired as it would drive up their premiums if an injured worker was re-injured and all the brunt of the injury would be on that NEW employer. I have brought this up to Alberta WCB a few years ago in the Appeals Process.
http://www.canadabusiness.ca/eng/summary/2475/
It is also on WCB website with more information, they claim it has been on site since September 22, 2008.
First I heard of it, not one WCB employee mentioned this to me in all the correspondence or conversations of the claims services staff, I also subscribe to the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta's mailing list for updates on programs and policies.

http://www.wcb.ab.ca/pdfs/workers/WFS_Training_on_the_job.pdf

Worker Fact Sheet
Website: www.wcb.ab.ca E-mail: contactcentre@wcb.ab.ca Box 2415, 9912-107 Street Toll-free: 1-866-922-9221 (within AB) 1-800-661-9608 (outside AB) Edmonton, AB T5J 2S5
Edmonton Ph: 780-498-3999 Fax: 780-498-7999
Calgary: Ph: 403-517-6000 Fax: 403-517-6201
Training on the Job (TOJ)
When it is identified that you are medically unable (because of the accepted work place accident) to return to your date of accident occupation, your case manager will consider suitable
re-employment assistance to meet your needs. Your case manager will initially determine, by
talking to your accident employer, if any modified job opportunities exist with them. If your
accident employer is unable to find you suitable employment, other re-employment assistance is
considered. The training-on-the-job program is one of the options available through the re-employment assistance program.
How it works
A TOJ program is an individualized program set up to help you return to work with either your date of accident employer or a new employer, learning new skills. This program is also an
incentive for employers to hire people who do not have the experience necessary to get into that
line of work. WCB - Alberta subsidizes (tops up) your wages while you learn these new skills in a different job*. This working arrangement is a win-win situation for you and your new employer. Your employer gets an opportunity to see if you are appropriate for the job, while you get an opportunity to be trained in a different job and return to the workforce safely.
Your case manager will review and determine your entitlement to a TOJ program based on your individual need.
* Depending on the details of your new position, WCB can reimburse your new employer at a decreasing percentage of the wages (e.g. 1st month – 100%, 2nd month – 75%, etc.).
**WCB does not pay overtime, holiday pay or the employer’s portion of the worker’s Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan contributions or WCB premiums.
Finding an employer
When you have identified a potential employer, WCB can approach the potential employer to determine if they are interested in sponsoring you in a TOJ program. Talk to your case manager.
Determining the length of the program
You, your case manager and your new employer will determine the length of your TOJ program
(usually three to six months) by assessing the skill requirements of the new job, your transferable skills and the time required for you to learn new skills to become a fully productive
employee.

They sure make it sound good but you notice that they have already set the time limits and the amount of income for the injured worker, Guess my first comment was damn close to the truth, just more corruption to get rid of the injured worker so they can keep on collecting Millions to set themselves in a nice comfy retirement.
http://www.eluta.ca/top-employer-workers-compensation-board-of-alberta
If this were a court of law I know my lawyer would say this is not a good agreement to many loop holes to trap the injured worker and release the WCB of responsibility.

I have been investigating the connection between Alberta WCB and the Federal Government as I have been told so many times that Federal and Provincial Governments have no say in the day to day workings of the WCB, in fact I have been told by MP's that I have requested involvement from (as provincial Government has done nothing to investigate the WCB) that any business with WCB is to taken up with my Provincial Government.
The only connection to the Alberta WCB and Provincial Government on employers and labour incentives is to join a injury reduction programhttp://employment.alberta.ca/SFW/340.html. Now why would the Alberta WCB and federal Government join forces and not the Provincial Government?
Is this a way stating that offers were in place for the injured worker to gain employment ?

To find their own retraining programs due to WCB is incompetent at retraining?
or is it a way of proving that they had options in place to prevent Mr.Clayton from stating that the WCB had no options available for him and therefore cut him off benefits and to find his own medications without any health care assistance? regardless there has not been anywhere else then the Federal site and the WCB home site that stated this option for the injured worker's of Alberta.

I have a few major reservation's towards this situation:

1) what about after training; the I/W's restrictions would still be there, it would take very little to cause a flare-up in injury , depending on the injury it self.

2) If this is offered in Alberta , why not the rest of Canada ? seems like a new cover story by these actions of the situation of the Hostage taking.

3)Why doesn't the Federal Government, Provincial Government and WCB all work together and continue the subsidies for the employee's life span until retirement and a top off of a percentage to compensate our pensions.

4) What prevents the WCB from making "DEAL's" with the "on-the-job-training-employer" to have the workers employment terminated as soon as training is done, that does not secure any employment in the future, as the WCB could in turn increase the premiums/ stop wage subsidy or anything they want to the employer as he is no longer training.

5) Why is it only open to Employers for training ; what if I want my own business ( like I have tried before) and have always needed WCB's permission ( even via Federal Government Business Grant application), that way I can guarantee "my own" success or failure instead of falling back into the same rut

6) Sorry WCB Alberta but you have proven to many times that you cannot be trusted with the authority over the injured worker, especially now when you are not part of the Provincial Government as you have so contently stated to injured workers over the years, only to crawl into bed with the Federal Government; of whom has been washing their hands of you since the Merideth Report was written up.

This Stinks Big Time of Political Corruption;WCB is still in control of the situation; with that said I am cut off now due to non-compliance?

There is still no protection from the abuse and manipulation of the Workers Compensation Board Alberta.

Reply from WCB Supervisor

Hi Ken,

I reviewed the information you have inquired on regarding a training on the job (TOJ). This has been a re-employment assistance option for many years. This is not in conjunction with any government agency. This is not a new option and if you look at our site you will find information regarding training on the job. I have attached the link below with the fact sheet which I encourage you to review:

http://www.wcb.ab.ca/pdfs/workers/WFS_Training_on_the_job.pdf

I cannot comment on what the Government of Canada has chosen to place on their website, as we are not a government agency. I encourage you to contact them directly if you have questions regarding information that they have indicated in their website. Please also note that the reason that Alberta WCB may be indicated but others may not, is likely due to the fact that not all WCB's may have this as a vocational option. Each WCB in Canada is governed by separate legislation and have their own policies.

If you are inquiring on your eligibility for a training on the job you would need to contact us in writing with your request and a Case Manager would reply to your request. Thank you.

Nici Denney
Supervisor
Large Employers
Customer Service and Disability Management
WCB Alberta
Phone (780) 498-4358
Fax (780) 498-4078

A case manager will contact me? So once again I am without a case manager, last time I ended up on criminal charges by WCB, for no case manager available.

You do not have one assigned at this time Ken, as your file is not under active management, but if you would like to send something in writing regarding a request for a training on the job, you are welcome to do so and a Case Manager will be assigned to your claim and contact you in that regard.

Nici Denney

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