Effective January 1, 2026, Nova Scotia’s Workers’ Compensation Act changes will be implemented.
The changes include the below.
- Faster injury reporting
- Employers must now report workplace injuries within two days (reduced from five).
- Enables quicker access to benefits and early return-to-work (RTW) planning.
- Improved access to return-to-work information
- Employers will receive functional ability details (e.g., lifting limits).
- Only essential information is shared to protect worker privacy.
- Supports safe, timely modified-duties planning.
- Transportation costs are included in medical aid
- Costs like ambulance transportation are now included in overall claim costs.
- Eliminates separate employer billing for these expenses.
- More flexible benefit reviews
- Extended Earnings Replacement Benefits can be reviewed any time a worker’s circumstances change, not just at 3- or 5-year intervals.
- Creates a fairer, more responsive system.
- Public reporting of non-compliance
- WCB may now publish names of employers who receive administrative penalties.
- Increases transparency and promotes compliance.
Employers should do the following.
Review the legislative changes
Update internal policies and procedures
Communicate changes to managers and employees
Train their HR and payroll team
Verify Compliance with Reporting Deadlines
Assess Workplace Health and Safety Programs
Ensure the payroll system is updated when required