With complexity comes uncertainty and the risk of costly litigation. Issues such as employment contracts, employment standards, WSIB claims management, health and safety due diligence and managing terminations regularly give rise to the need for expert advice.

Workplace Law Consulting Inc. is a sophisticated but affordable firm that provides real advice in real time! We provide our clients with timely and unlimited human resources, employment law and health and safety support.

A low monthly investment will open the door to unlimited verbal and written advice to all your employment law requirements. Contact us to inquire on the monthly fee cost based on the size of your company and type of business.

WSIB Claims Management

In Ontario the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) processes around 350,000 claims annually with around 140,000 involving adjudication for compensation and benefits related to loss of earnings. The average cost to an Ontario employer for a lost time claim is about $11,000.00 in direct WSIB charges, not to mention indirect costs incurred by the employer.

We provide a comprehensive claims management system that is designed to reduce and control employer’s costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses. Our pro-active program begins on the day of the accident and continues to the final resolution of the claim. We analyze accident cost statements in order to determine if cost refunds may be obtained by the employer.

• Completion of all WSIB forms
• Full Communication with WSIB adjudicators
• Disputing claims that may be fraudulent or non work related
• Second Injury & Enhancement Fund (SIEF) employer refund review
• Full development and implementation of Early and Safe Return to Work (ESRTW) plan with modified work packages
• Monitoring and follow-up of modified work progress
• Review of functional abilities information
• WSIB return to work meeting participation
• Labour Market Re-entry (LMR) review and recommendations

Our consulting services apply at any time during the life of a work-related claim. Intervention on existing claims may have the effect of solving a long standing problem.

At the same time our ability to respond in a timely manner to new work-related incidents has the effect of limiting the extent and duration of a problem for the employer.

WSIB and RETURN TO WORK

Return to work has become a responsibility of the workplace parties. Both employers and workers have statutory return to work obligations. Employers alone have re-employment obligations and must satisfy the Act’s duty to accommodate the work or workplace. We can customize or create a RTW Plan for your company, or review the current one.

For more information, please contact us.

Human Resources Consulting Services

We work with existing human resources staff or directly with management to provide support, develop specific strategies and implement action plans. Your human resource program should be to support rather than constrict the company’s business plan allowing you to focus on your core business issues.

Human Resource Services are increasingly important in today’s organizations. Organizations that implement effective HR management receive the following benefits:

• Reduced risk of fines associated with employment laws
• Lower turnover rates
• Increased productivity
• Higher employee morale
• Fewer employee grievances

We develop custom HR programs that match the client’s organizational needs. We develop complete programs or help the client improve existing programs.

• Employee recruitment and selection
• Developing employment offers and contracts
• Managing employee terminations
• Employment standards
• Human rights
• HR audits and assessments
• Employee handbooks
• Policy and procedure development
• Performance management and appraisals
• Employee disciplines
• Labor relations
• Turnover/absenteeism reduction
• Complaint and grievance investigations
• Mediation/Dispute Resolution
• Coaching managers and supervisor’s to ensure legal compliance

For more information, please contact us.

Health and Safety Consulting Services

In Ontario, Ministry of Labour enforcement is at a high level and the employer must take every precaution reasonable to prevent accidents in the workplace. The employer must demonstrate due diligence in the event of a Ministry of Labour audit or investigation. If the employer fails to demonstrate due diligence it may result in orders or fines under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

We work with the human resource staff or directly with management to review, implement and improve the organizations health and safety system.

• Health and safety compliance audit review
• Ministry of labour order completion
• Accident investigations
• Training recommendations
• Reviewing existing health and safety program
• Developing a health and safety program manual
• Developing a safe work procedures manual
• Safety infraction disciplines
• Develop and ensure the joint health and safety committee is functioning effectively
• Attending safety committee meetings
• Review of MOL charges or fines
• Coaching managers and supervisor’s to ensure legal compliance

For more information, please contact us.

Workwell Audit Assistance

The Workwell program is an audit tool used by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario to implement section 82(1) of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. The Government's purpose for the auditing tool is to identify companies through high claim costs, or frequency, and recoup those costs through fines based on the organization's audit score.

At Workplace Law we provide assistance from start to finish to ensure an employer's Health and Safety programs meet the requirements of the Workwell Audit.

Upon initial workplace assessment we provide a report detailing the cost, effort and time frame needed to meet the WSIB requirements.

How Can We Help?

• Review and explain the questions in the audit with your audit team
• Review your current health and safety standards
• Advise your team on improving your current health and safety standards to the expectations of the WSIB Auditor
• Conduct mock audits using the Workwell questions
• Coach your team members in answering the questions asked by the WSIB Auditor
• Make recommendations in the development and implementation of health and safety standards as per the WSIB Workwell Audit
• Make recommendations on the preparation and organization of support materials required to show you have what you say you have in place and it is being consistently implemented

For more information, please contact us.