Our suite of services is tailored to ensure employers optimize their WCB standing and safeguard their interests. Our signature Cost Relief Recovery service delves into the intricacies of your WCB expenses. The process begins with identifying any unwarranted charges, aiming to reduce premiums and, where possible, secure a direct WCB refund or credit. Every file undergoes a meticulous assessment: from verifying the authenticity of a work-related injury and establishing the rightful compensation rate for the employee to scrutinizing the legitimacy of all costs dispensed on a claim, and ensuring all WCB policies have been accurately applied.

Moreover, we recognize the pivotal role representation plays in WCB appeal matters. Employers are tasked with the responsibility of arranging their own representation, and the absence of either the employer or their representative can result in decisions that aren’t in their favor, especially when the requisite support documentation and information aren’t presented. We’re adept at identifying appealable issues and gauging the potential for a successful outcome. Beyond just preparing the vital documentation, we stand by you at every stage of the appeal or review, consistently championing the rights of employers. Our approach is fortified by drawing upon relevant information, strict adherence to policies, practices, and our vast reservoir of experience. Ultimately, our goal is to mitigate any stress, saving employers from the pitfalls of wasted time, undue energy, and avoidable frustration.

Blue Collar protects your WCB account from undue charges that lead to higher premiums. This takes the form of active case management, monitoring of claims costs, and implementation of risk and cost mitigation measures. 

We represent either/or as the situation requires.

We transform disability into profit by facilitating class-leading WCB management practices. Given the intricacies of workplace injury claims and the varied priorities of stakeholders, disagreements are bound to emerge. It’s crucial to address these disagreements swiftly to ensure facts remain accurate, documentation is accessible, and before there are significant ramifications on the outcomes. Blue Collar Consulting possesses the requisite experience and expertise to discern the most viable approach tailored to each provincial Board and across all appeal stages. Our strategy encompasses formulating appeal recommendations in line with provincial criteria, the nuances of the claim, and anticipated results.

The Blue Collar program is designed for budget-challenged small-to-medium-sized employers (10-250 employees). An affordable monthly subscription ensures priority service. “Piece-work” consultation is also available on an hourly basis as time permits. 

An historical claims analysis often uncovers opportunities for cost relief or recovery. This effort can provide a quick cash injection amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.

Combined WCB and group-benefit savings can easily amount to $100-200K, or more, depending on your company size, rate group, and experience rating. 

We have senior-level experience in engineering and development of resource and municipal infrastructure, residential/commercial construction, along with environmental remediation and reclamation. Our construction pedigree lends context and nuance to a WCB service that’s tailored to your unique needs.

Because it’s a low-cost, hassle-free investment in your bottom line. Direct and indirect costs stemming from disability can consume 3-5% of operating income (EBITDA). In fact, many companies spend at least 10% of their total payroll on direct disability costs. On top of that, research shows that for every dollar spent on direct costs, an equal amount is spent on overtime, additional supervision, hiring and training costs, and loss of productivity. 

Furthermore, a disability program supports injured workers in times of need, reduces operational disruption due to absence, demonstrates legal due diligence, and liberates HR and HSE from workers’ comp admin burdens.  

Disability management is a proactive and coordinated strategy to facilitate and manage employee health and productivity. Instead of treating disability as an unavoidable cost of doing business and allowing claims to be victimized by chance, a disability program empowers employers and leads to better outcomes for themselves and employees. 

Plan design

Inexpensive Blue Collar programs are always tailored to unique needs. Gap analysis, action planning, early intervention, return-to-work planning, and claim management comprise the key elements.  Our consultants collaborate with your management team for the purposes of:

• Getting injured people back to work rapidly and safely
• Strategic preservation of bidding power and TRIF management 
• Proactively preventing time-loss claims 
• Controlling claims costs 
• Ensuring legal compliance

What’s involved?

• Develop policies, procedures, and forms
• Educate management team
• Promote the program
• Implement and evaluate

Not at all. Companies and agencies across North America have adopted disability management programs including Suncor, Civeo, University of Calgary, New Brunswick Nurses Union, and many more. 

HR and Safety professionals get bogged down in workers’ comp. And this problem is only growing worse due to growing psych injuries and the COVID-19 fallout. Blue Collar can relieve the pressure so your HR and HSE teams can focus on recruiting top talent and preventing injury. 

It’s never been harder to earn a discount, or even to maintain an average WCB rating. BCC can help preserve your good standing with the WCB.

Disability management is a broad term that includes WCB management, return-to-work planning, claims administration, appeals preparation, etc.  In other words, case management is one component of a larger system. Blue Collar provides all-inclusive disability management for a low monthly fee. 

Disability management is a broad term that encompasses WCB management, return-to-work planning, claims administration, appeals preparation, etc.  In other words, WCB management is one component of a larger system. Blue Collar provides all-inclusive disability management for a low monthly fee. 

It all begins with a conversation. Disability management shouldn’t occur in a silo, but rather, should align with overarching corporate strategy. Once BCC understands your business, we get to work on a gap analysis by studying current state versus desired state. Next comes policy development and communication, setting metrics, educating your staff, and establishing accountabilities. It’s a quick, straightforward, and painless process that occurs mostly behind the scenes as Blue Collar walks you through the steps.

While there is some overlap with HSE, the primary focus of disability management concerns post-injury mitigation versus accident prevention (pre-injury). In a perfect world, accidents wouldn’t happen, but when they do, a disability program ensures a coordinated response.

Absolutely. Our role is advisory in nature and you always have the final say. 

Work is the best form of therapy, but pressuring a worker to return is bound to fail. The goal is a sustained and safe return-to-work. And this goal is most often achieved via a consensual ‘recover-at-work’ plan. 

 

During the acute stage of a serious injury or illness, home-based recuperation is advisable until a worker’s condition stabilizes. That said, the WCB wants injured workers to recover at work if at all possible. To this end, a duty-to-reinstate is now imposed on employers along with a legal obligation to provide modified or alternate work. BCC helps its clients stay compliant with legislative requirements while respecting your worker’s safety.

Yes, if you plan on challenging a ruling rendered by the Appeals Commission, then you should contact a WCB lawyer. But a superior, and much less expensive game plan is to achieve a resolution with WCB itself and/or the Appeals Commission. And at the initial levels of appeal, it’s best to engage a WCB specialist not a WCB lawyer.