Enhanced Compensation for Psychological Injuries

Workers Compensation Board of Prince Edward Island

Enhanced Compensation for Psychological Injuries

July 08, 2024

The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of PEI is pleased to share that it will be broadening compensation coverage to include psychological injuries that result from work-related harassment. This change will take effect January 1, 2025.

“The WCB has covered psychological injuries following traumatic incidents for some time already and with this change, we will now include incidents of work-related harassment,” said Jim MacPhee, Chair of the WCB. “This enhanced coverage also aligns our compensation practices with our occupational health and safety (OHS) practices which changed in 2020 when Workplace Harassment Regulations were included in the OHS Act.”

“We want to make sure Island employers and workers are aware that this change in compensation is coming and will be in effect on January 1, 2025,” said Dan Campbell, CEO of the WCB. “We thank all those who took the time to provide feedback as part of our stakeholder consultations on this topic in February of this year. Physical and psychological health are equally as important when it comes to making sure workplaces are healthy and safe.”

The WCB will be communicating with workplaces over the coming months to make them aware of their rights and responsibilities related to this change in compensation coverage. To support injured workers, the WCB recently put in place a Psychological Care Process for the timely diagnosis and treatment of work-related psychological injuries which includes access to a psychologist and a network of counsellors. In 2023, one per cent of the claims accepted by the WCB were for psychological injuries.

As part of its new strategic plan, the WCB recognizes that the needs of workers and employers are evolving and becoming more complex. Enhancing compensation for psychological injuries is one way to address those needs and to make our coverage more inclusive. Work-related harassment prevention efforts will continue in parallel as prevention is equally important.

WCB Resources

Psychological Injuries - https://wcb.pe.ca/Workers/PsychologicalInjuries

Workplace Harassment - https://wcb.pe.ca/WH

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Media Contact:
WCB Communications
902-894-0362 or news@wcb.pe.ca

November 20, 2024

Safety Education Sessions

Our Workshop Safety Education Sessions continue next week! ?? Coing up: November 26 - Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. This is an in-person session. Register now by emailing ohs@wcb.pe.ca or by calling 902-368-5687.

November 20, 2024

IMPORTANT NOTICE - Canada Post Service Disruption

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers announced that its members began a nationwide strike on Friday, November 15, at 12:01am ET. The Workers Compensation Board will monitor the situation on a day-by-day basis, and we will only issue mail if, and when, it is possible to do so, to minimize disruption to our clients. The mail strike does not affect those who receive their payments through direct deposit. Injured workers and health care providers are encouraged to set up direct deposit. To sign up, complete the appropriate form: Worker Direct Deposit Form: https://bit.ly/3Z6Jzqk Direct Deposit Request – Service Provider Form : https://bit.ly/4ey4maM The WCB has already reached out to clients to make arrangements for payments to continue in a timely manner. Our Online Services remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, where you can submit claims, reports, review account balances and remit account payments electronically. If you have any questions or concerns about your payments, please contact the WCB at 902-368-5680 or toll-free 1-800-237-5049 in Atlantic Canada.

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