On April 13, the Government of Ontario announced a proposal to increase income-replacement benefits paid by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to workers injured on the job. If passed, the proposal would increase WSIB Loss-of-Earnings benefits from 85 per cent to 90 per cent of a worker’s net (take-home) earnings.
The proposal also includes continuing WSIB support for workers aged 65 and older.
Employers with employees who are covered under WSIB must:
- Be prepared to adjust disability/WSIB top-up plans if the proposal is enacted;
- Review internal WSIB/leave communications once the final details and effective date are confirmed;
- Confirm that payroll and HR teams understand the interaction between WSIB benefits and employer-paid top-ups (if applicable); and
- Review current WSIB-related practices for workers approaching or over age 65.