Our pillars reflect our promises and define our commitment to you.
Our pillars focus us to deliver a workers’ compensation system that injured workers, employers and health care providers can rely on and trust. They drive our decision making and actions in order to align us to our vision of a safe, healthy and strong Alberta.
At WCB-Alberta, we know our work impacts the lives of Albertans. Workplace injuries can be overwhelming for everyone involved—workers who are sick or hurt, those who love them and the employers who count on them. How we respond in these difficult times is critically important.
We think about and plan for the future so the necessary benefits and services are available when you need them.
2019 marked the beginning of a five-year service journey to evolve our workers’ compensation system. Our Board of Directors, management and staff are committed to leading the way in providing an exceptional customer experience for our clients, putting workers at the centre of their recovery and employers at the centre of guiding a safe and successful return to work. To deliver on this commitment, it’s critical that we anticipate and respond to the changing landscape in which we operate—from the changing nature of work and claims, to the new service opportunities that technology and innovation enable.
Even within a difficult economic environment, we saw incredible return-to-work results.
Despite the challenges we collectively faced last year with a struggling economy and high unemployment rates, together we achieved considerable success. Working with injured workers, employers, treatment providers and labour groups, we were able to help 95.6% of injured workers return to work.
As we navigate new and unprecedented challenges, we remain dedicated to meeting the needs of the province, its workers and its employers. Our focus continues to be helping workers recover and return to work after an injury and providing a financially sustainable system for the employers and workers who rely on us.
Responsiveness, adaptability and collaboration are key to our success. We are resilient. We will overcome challenges and succeed together.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, our executive leadership and all staff at WCB-Alberta, we thank every partner who contributes to the success of our system. We cannot do it without you.
Accountable to Alberta’s Minister of Labour and Immigration, our board members are representative of the interests of workers, employers and Alberta’s general public. Through their work on board standing committees, they focus on key areas including auditing, financial planning, policy, human resource and governance to ensure the system remains strong, stable and fair.
Our executive is passionate about supporting and empowering our employees as we work together to create a stakeholder experience built on compassionate and capable service.
| 2019 | 2018 | |
| Workers covered | 1,884,600 | 1,884,400 |
| Registered employers | 159,359 | 162,981 |
| Lost-time claim rate (per 100 workers)¹ | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| Disabling-injury rate (per 100 workers)¹ | 2.7 | 2.7 |
| New claims reported | 129,851 | 132,346 |
| Lost-time claims¹ | 30,100 | 28,600 |
| Fatality claims accepted | 165 | 162 |
| Ineligible claims (% of all new claims) | 9.6% | 11.1% |
| New requests for review to the DRDRB | 2,238 | 2,142 |
| Return to work with accident employer | 94.2% | 91.8% |
| Return to work with new employer | 1.4% | 2.1% |
| Return to work overall | 95.6% | 93.9% |
| Estimated average claim duration (TTD days) | 49.5 | 44.1 |
| Cost-of-living adjustment on long-term benefits | 2.41% | 1.20% |
| Claim benefit expense (thousands) | $1,246,444 | $1,106,349 |
| New non-economic loss and permanent disability awards | 3,063 | 3,855 |
| New economic loss awards | 677 | 911 |
| Premium revenue (thousands) | $1,124,225 | $1,074,761 |
| Average collected premium rate (per $100 of assessable earnings) |
$1.08 | $1.05 |
| Investment income (thousands) | $1,474,477 | $145,305 |
| Funded ratio (per cent funded) | 119.2% | 118.3% |
¹Lost-time claims and the lost-time claim and disabling-injury rates are projected. This approach is taken to ensure claims for accidents occurring in 2019 but not reported by year-end are considered.
When a worker has needs that fall outside of the scope of their claim, or exhausts all available benefits and services, WCB’s community support program is here to help.
With a bit of creative thinking, we can often connect those in need with community resources and supports to help them thrive. We ensure workers are aware of, and have access to, as many supports as possible—including government programs, registered charities and volunteer organizations—so workers have the best possible chance at success. It’s the right thing to do.
Albertans continued to face challenging economic times in 2019. In recognition of this, our Board of Directors used our strong funding level to offset what would have been a significant increase in employer premium rates. This approach allowed us to maintain our required funding level to protect the benefits and services workers need, while giving Alberta’s employers stability in their rates.
Despite a $278.7 million premium rate deficit in 2019, we ended the year within our target funding range at 119.2%. It’s important we continue to strike an appropriate balance—one which ensures the long-term financial sustainability of the workers' compensation system and rate stability for employers during a difficult economic period.
