COVID-19 and WCB Coverage

“Workers covered by….(WCB) legislation would be unable generally to sue their employer but would have to utilize that mechanism, although Workers’ Compensation branches in different provinces have issued bulletins and have different policies respecting who might be covered.

Given the two-year limitation period, we may not see these lawsuits for some time, but a harbinger may be a case involving Walmart Inc. Management at that store had been told by several workers that there were safety issues, but it did little to address them.

A Walmart employee in Illinois contracted COVID-19 and died. As result, his estate is suing the retail giant for several million dollars. There’s no reason why this same lawsuit could not occur and be ultimately successful in Canada, subject to workers’ compensation legislation.”

—Howard Levitt, senior partner of Levitt LLP, employment and labour lawyers.

https://financialpost.com/legal-post/howard-levitt-employers-can-face-heavy-fines-and-even-jail-time-if-they-dont-ensures-safe-work-spaces
Call (780)-340-5727 to speak with our 541 Eagleson Wynd, Edmonton T6M 0Y4 team for free.
Picture of Ben Barfett

Ben Barfett

Ben Barfett, Principal and Consultant, has spent his life in the construction sector, specifically heavy civil, enviro, commercial, and energy. Having held senior roles in business development, technical advisory, and regional management, he earned his stripes in the field and in head office. Conscious of the interplay between commercial, legal, and execution aspects of construction, his business insights are informed by expertise in WCB policy and enhanced with disability-specific training.

Picture of Ben Barfett

Ben Barfett

Ben Barfett, Principal and Consultant, has spent his life in the construction sector, specifically heavy civil, enviro, commercial, and energy. Having held senior roles in business development, technical advisory, and regional management, he earned his stripes in the field and in head office. Conscious of the interplay between commercial, legal, and execution aspects of construction, his business insights are informed by expertise in WCB policy and enhanced with disability-specific training.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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