Please note, the following information is just a GUIDE on what to do and what to expect while you are on WCB. Every person’s claim is unique to them so if you have questions, please reach out to your Shop Steward or contact the Worker’s Advisors.
If you were injured at work, please be sure you see your First Aid at your worksite. Your First Aid attendants are trained to assist in workplace injuries.
Fill out an Incident Report using the Employee Self Serve and that you also forwarded the incident report to the union at healthsafety@cupe728.ca. Please be sure to let your CUPE H&S Site Rep know that you were injured at work. Please forward your incident report to them as well.
Go to your family doctor or if you’re using a Walk-in Clinic, try to stay with that Walk-in Clinic throughout your WCB claim and make sure you tell them that your injury was due to a workplace incident
Call WCB at 1-888-WORKERS. Be prepared to be on the phone for about 30 minutes. The Representative will ask you questions and they will be typing your answers as you speak. They will read back what they type to make sure they put down everything you said. They are open Mon-Fri 8:00am to 6:00pm.
You are automatically enrolled in using your accumulated sick time to cover your wage loss while WCB is determining if your claim will be accepted. This also means that your accumulated sick time will be used to ‘top-up’ your pay cheques. WCB pays about 90% of your net earning. Your accumulated sick time will automatically be used to top up those extra hours. These top-up hours are taxable, work towards your EI hours, work toward your seniority hours (within your seniority date), work towards your CPP and MPP accumulation and your union dues.
If you don’t want to use your sick time at all, you MUST notify the payroll department in writing before the particular payroll work related to the frist affect pay period has been completed. You cannot change your decision.
Within a few days, you should be getting a letter from WCB indicating that a claim has been initiated. In that letter, you will have a Customer Care Number and a Claims number. This letter is an initial letter and doesn’t quite mean your claim has been fully accepted. It’s just to start the process of a claim.
———-
Sign up for your WCB on-line portal. The information relating to your claim will be on here. Not only will you see medical reports, you can see correspondence and phone calls that were done in regard to your claim, even if you were not on the phone call. It is imperative that you monitor your portal.
———-
Desjardins will be contacting you and requiring you to fill out some paperwork. You will need to do this as Desjardins will be able to provide you with supports, should your WCB claim not be accepted. Desjardins can also provide you with support while you are on WCB.
The CUPE728 Union office will contact you as well. Please be sure work with them.
———-
KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS. Even if it’s for over-the-counter medication, ice packs….You may be able to submit your receipts. You will need to write your Case Manager a letter (or call the call center to ask) if you can get reimbursement for them. You should not be out any monies if you are injured at work. You can find the Worker Supply and Claim Form here
———-
If your doctor has suggested that you do physiotherapy, talk to your WCB claims manager (or call the call centre if your claim has not been fully accepted) to make sure that your Physio appointments are covered. And make sure you go to a physiotherapy company that direct bills to WCB. This could also include massage therapy, acupuncture, counselling….
———-
Keep in contact with your doctor and make sure your doctor sends any and all reports to WCB. They are required to send them within 3 days of your appointment.
———-
If you ever have a question for your Case Manager or are calling your Case Manager back, CALL THE CALL CENTRE FIRST. Tell them you are calling (ex. “I am returning a call to my case manager about extending my physiotherapy” or “I wanted to let my case manager know I will be putting in a receipt for over-the-counter paid medication”, etc.) and then ask to be transferred to your case manager. That way your phone call is always documented. Case Managers have very large case loads and don’t always log their calls. If you call the Call Centre first and then get transfered, your call will be logged on your file. Remember, if it’s not logged, it didn’t happen.
———-
It is always always advisable to fill out a daily diary of what you’re going through with your injury. You never know when you’ll need it in the future.
For example, if you had a left shoulder injury…
Monday, Oct 28 2024 - went to physio and did exercises. Was sore after physio. Had to take 2 Extra-Strength Tylenol every 4 hours Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024 - was unable to lift left arm above shoulder height. felt pain behind shoulder blade. Wednesday Oct 30, 2024 - called Case Manager to ask about reimbursement Thursday Oct 31, 2024 - went to physio. was unable to do 3 out of 7 exercises. pain in left neck. Friday Nov 1, 2024 - returned to work and was unable to do the assigned work. Admin sent me home. Called Case Manager Sat/Sun - was unable to drive, was unable to do laundry, was unable to make bed Mon Nov 4 2024 - saw Dr. advised to take 6 more weeks off and add massage therapy. 2024 - WorkSafeBC claims process WorkSafeBC Guide cm025-pdf-en