Dear Blue Collar,
Q: One of our workers, a delivery driver, accidentally struck a dog en route to a drop off. The dog survived, but our worker was understandably shook up. However, she’s now on WCB for PTSD allegedly caused by the incident. The Board has since accepted the worker’s demands to be enrolled in an expensive undergraduate program, as driving apparently triggers unpleasant flashbacks. And so, our WCB account will be charged $100K in tuition costs.
A cost like this could break us. Appeal now or wait?
A: Continue to pursue your dissatisfaction with the case worker until you get a written decision, complete with rationale. If you disagree with WCB’s reasons for claim acceptance, step two is to enter into the appeals process, taking the issue to the Dispute Resolution & Decision Review Board and ultimately to the Appeals Commission. It’s worth noting that an investigation into an employer’s objection to a claim can occur while the claim is in active progress, or conversely, an appeal may be launched long after the case is closed.
Send your questions to ben@bluecollarconsulting.ca
