Additional Re-employment services
Retraining programs
Workers may be eligible for a retraining program to improve their earnings potential and level of employability. Examples of retraining programs include English as a second language classes, computer training, life skill courses and academic upgrading.
As of April 1, 2021, workers have a duty to cooperate in their return to work and vocational rehabilitation (re-employment). Cooperation means full participation and disclosure, as required, in those activities and services at each stage of a claim that are focused on supporting a worker’s recovery and return to work. The goal is to act in good faith to maximize recovery and achieve return to work, or independence for workers who are medically unable to return to work. There may be an impact to the worker’s benefits if they are not cooperating.
Training on the job or work assessments
A Training on the Job (TOJ) program is used as an incentive for a new employer to hire a worker. The cost of a TOJ is shared between WCB and the new employer.
A TOJ provides workers with skill development and work experience they may need for permanent employment. It can also assist in determining their suitability for a specific job or skills area.
Employers can request workers through WCB, or a decision maker or worker can present the opportunity to an employer with the assistance of an employment specialist.
TOJs should be considered at any time during a claim for all workers who:
- Are medically able to return to work, and
- Cannot return to their pre-accident job due to compensable work restrictions.
Work Assessment
Work assessments (WA) are similar to TOJs, but are offered to the worker’s date of accident employer to support the placement of the worker in a new position.
Work assessments are also available for new employers who are not covered under the Workers' Compensation Act or for out of province employers. The cost of the WA salary is shared between WCB and the WA employer.
- Training on the job worker fact sheet
- Training on the job employer fact sheet
- Work assessment employer fact sheet
Alternate grants: academic and self-employment
Alternate grants are available in rare situations when an individual would like to explore alternate employment options outside of WCB's re-employment services stream. Eligible workers receive a lump sum payment in installments, representative of their entitlement to WCB services. Generally, these options are explored with the worker during their job planning phase.
Academic grants support workers’ academic pursuits when the cost of their chosen program is suitable but not cost effective. An academic grant allocates the costs for the program(s) WCB would sponsor to the worker’s chosen program.
For example: a worker would like to attend a four-year academic program, but is only eligible for costs that would finance to a two-year program, the worker would receive a grant to use towards a portion of their chosen program’s costs.
Self-employment grants provide funding to workers who are eligible for re-employment services, but have instead opted to start their own business. In order to be approved for this grant, the worker must develop their own business plan with assistance from WCB’s Re-employment Services and Business Development Services.
Relocation assistance
In some cases, a worker may need to relocate to find employment when there are no jobs available in their current location or they are living out of province and are moving to Alberta.