Workers' Co-operation Obligations

Policy

A worker who is receiving benefits under the insurance plan, or who is entitled to do so, is required to:

  • provide the WSIB with any information necessary to adjudicate the claim
  • co-operate in health care measures the WSIB considers appropriate
  • undergo an examination by a health professional selected and paid for by the WSIB, and
  • undergo an examination by a health professional selected and paid for by the employer if directed by the WSIB, and
  • co-operate in all aspects of the return-to-work (RTW) process, including RTW assessments and plans.

If a worker does not fulfill these obligations, the worker's benefits may be reduced or suspended.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to set out a worker's co-operation obligations and the penalties for non-compliance.

Guidelines

Co-operation obligations

Providing information

Workers must give the WSIB information necessary to assist in the adjudication of their claims. For example, workers whose employment pattern was non-permanent or irregular at the time of the injury are required to submit proof of earnings information by the 13th week of benefits. See 18-02-03, Determining Long-term Average Earnings - Workers in Permanent Employment, and 18-02-04, Determining Long-term Average Earnings - Workers in Non-permanent Employment.

If a worker must obtain the information from a third party, the WSIB must be satisfied that the worker failed to take all reasonable steps to acquire the information before making a finding of non-co-operation.

When a worker does not provide the necessary information, the WSIB may reduce or suspend the worker's benefits until the information is provided.

Health care

Workers must co-operate in the health care measures the WSIB considers appropriate. If they do not, the WSIB may reduce or suspend their benefits until they co-operate.

Examples of non-co-operation include, but are not limited to:

If a worker has a legitimate reason for failing to follow prescribed treatment, the decision-maker, in consultation with WSIB health care staff, considers acceptable alternative treatments.

For information regarding workers with non-work-related health problems interfering with the treatment of a work-related condition, see 17-03-04, Health Care for Non-work-related Conditions.

Health examinations

If a worker refuses to undergo a health examination requested by the attending health professional or the WSIB, or if the worker obstructs the examination, the WSIB may reduce or suspend benefits until the worker co-operates. For more information on WSIB-requested health examinations, see 17-04-03, WSIB-Requested Health Examinations.

If the WSIB directs that an employer-requested health examination take place, the worker must undergo the examination as directed. If a worker fails to do so, the WSIB may reduce or suspend benefits until the worker co-operates. For information on employer-requested health examinations, see 17-04-02, Employer-Requested Health Examinations.

Return-to-work activities

For information on the specifics of the worker's obligation(s) to co-operate in RTW activites, see 19-02-08, RTW Co-operation Obligations.

Worker non-co-operation

Notice of non-co-operation

If the WSIB determines that a worker is not co-operating with their obligation(s), the WSIB notifies the worker of the:

  • obligation to co-operate
  • finding of non-co-operation, and
  • consequences of this finding (i.e., the reduction and/or suspension of benefits).

Notice is given verbally (if possible), and confirmed in writing in every case.

Reducing or suspending benefits

The WSIB may reduce or suspend a worker's benefits if after notifying the worker of the obligation(s), the worker:

  • fails to co-operate with the obligation(s), and
  • does not have a legitimate reason for not co-operating.

Restoring benefits

The WSIB does not restore benefits for any period that they were reduced or suspended due to non-co-operation unless the WSIB:

  • did not communicate to the worker the obligation(s) and the consequences of non-co-operation, or
  • made an error in finding the worker to be non-co-operative.

Legitimate reason

When a worker does not meet an obligation, the WSIB determines whether there was a legitimate reason. Workers are not penalized for non-co-operation if there is a legitimate reason. Legitimate reasons include, but are not limited to:

  • unexpected illness, accidents, severe weather conditions
  • compelling personal reasons, such as a death in the family, and
  • the actions or inactions of a relevant third party, such as Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), if tax records are involved.

Vacations

A worker may request up to 3 weeks vacation time per year. Vacation time may be approved if the worker and the WSIB agree upon the time of the vacation, and it does not interfere with the worker's ability to fulfill any of their obligations.

Offences - Fraud

When a worker commits a claim-related offence or fraud, the WSIB reduces or suspends benefits in accordance with 22-01-05, Offences and Penalties - General.

Application date

This policy applies to all decisions made on or after March 1, 2021, for all accidents.

Document history

This document replaces 22-01-03 dated February 15, 2013.

This document was previously published as:
22-01-03 dated October 12, 2004
11-01-07 dated June 15, 1999.

References

Legislative authority

Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, as amended
Sections 23, 34, 35, 36, 40, 42(7), 43(7)

Workers' Compensation Act, R.S.O. 1990, as amended
Sections 23, 34, 37, 43, 69(3), (4)

Minute

Administrative
#56, March 24, 2021, Page 592