Just another WCB rant

[jstubbs]

Just another in a long line of WCB threads here.

Someone VERY close to me has been fighting WCB since last March. They have a completely valid claim and have done everything WCB asked for throughout. Every medical professional who has seen them (that wasn’t affiliated with WCB) has confirmed their injury. I won’t reveal any specific details due to it not being my place, but they work in arguably one of the most noble jobs out there at a place that I know more than a few here have been to and would be so incredibly disgusted & disappointed to here about this happening.

I understand there are so many who have taken advantage of WCB and they need to be on high alert for that. But good lord for those with legitimate claims where multiple health professionals have confirmed that this is legitimate, it’s genuinely cruel the way they treat you—as if being injured bad enough that you cannot work for a period of time is some great holiday, when for lots, sitting at home and only doing activities that rehab the injury is a special hell of its own. Everything is designed around getting you back to work ASAP regardless of what the medical professionals who work with you constantly say. They bully and intimidate everyone, not only those with a claim but any of their medical professionals they see.

And worse, in this case there is some fairly strong evidence of a LOT of shady and illegal things that have been done, completely not following their own proper procedures. They expect you to wait for their beck and call and always have to be accessible to them, but they seem to purposely be as hard to get in contact with as possible. I could honestly write a 20 page essay on how bizarre and cruel they have truly acted throughout this entire process and only continues to get worse. It’s coming to a point where consulting a lawyer is really looking like the only route, but financially it’s just so tough to justify when WCB pays a reduced portion of salary.

Honestly, not sure if they are just having an especially tough experience and I know not everyone has had bad experience with WCB but seriously, something has to change here.

Rehabbing a severely impactful and painful injury should be the hardest part of having an injury, not dealing with the organization built to help you when you are injured.

End rant… hope everyone has been having a good 2022 thus far.

[sewerrat]

3 years ago I shattered my elbow at work due to slip and fall, so WCB was involved and I can honestly say my experience with WCB was really good.
They offered me all sorts of services like If I needed someone to snow shovel my yard, or clean my house, just send in the receipt and they will pay.
I think it all depends on the case worker your working with and be completely honest and upfront with them.

Now my neighbor he got injured at his work and he is just fighting with them, but then again he doesn't like to work either, but has all the time to snow blow his yard for for hours and I don't see anything wrong with him, he is just milking it for what is worth.

[ganderblaster]

If you have an injury that can be proven with an X-ray or death certificate, or you bring in the digit (they have a itemized digit or limb payout amount) I find they are ok. Unfortunately many WCB claims involve compressed discs and torn muscles or hearing or cancer issues due to exposure to workplace harmful toxins, and that’s very hard to get coverage for at times. That my PC version.

[obsessed1]

WCB is a sham. I have been unable to work for 1.5 years now due to advanced arthritis in my hands. I am a red seal carpenter, framed for 12 years, finished for 2 and construction manager for 5. I had sever carpel tunnel years ago ( ended my framing carrer) and ended up with permanent damage ( was a WCB claim) 2years ago I was diagnosed with advanced OA. Wcb claimed it was unrelated to my job. My joints are so bad they flair tendonitis in my forearms and lock me up( think foot cramp but in your hands, wrists, and forearms)sometimes the cramps last 45-60 min. I cant mop the kitchen floor without pain, or fold laundry for more than 10min before I start locking up....wcb still claims it had nothing to do with work activities since I have been off work and they haven't got much better....no duh...when you have no cartilage in your joints it doesn't just grow back cause your not at work.... sorry just my WCB rant...what a joke

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[Ebrand]

Have to learn to play their game.

Sadly it is a game to them. Try to not have to pay $$$$ game.

I have dealt with them over an injured knee and a broken bone in my hand.

Case workers are the key. Get a decent one and you will be treated well if you are honest and want to (or are able to) recover. Sadly see they seem to rotate them through a claim. I suspect that this is by design.

I get that there are slackers who ride the WCB gravy train. But it should be pretty darn easy to investigate them and figure them out.

Getting ahold of them is nearly impossible (working from home is probably hard SARCASM).

Demand a case worker that you can communicate with. Learn their rules and policies and demand they follow their own rules. If you are not happy with an answer or how you are treated COMPLAIN IN WRITING.

[Commander B]

Once the WCB ombudsman office was involved their tune changed quite quickly for a friend who was suffering for 3 years of ongoing BS. Resolved it in months.


If you have legal council the ombudsman will not get involved. It is also a free service. May be an Avenue for you to explore.

B.

[calgarychef]

I tore off my biceps tendon at work. WCB treated me very well. It took a long time, 2 surgeries and a lot of physio, they paid for it and supported me throughout the process. It was almost 1 1/2 years.

[fishinhogdaddy]

For those that have appealed and jumped through all the hoops required for WCB, contacting the Alberta Ombudsman could be way to prove your claim. Be advised that ALL the required steps to appeal your claim through the WCB office must be followed and completed before contacting this office for assistance.
For those that are struggling with their arcane system and their health, keep pushing forward and advocate for yourself.
YOU are your best hope for success!

My best wishes to all of you
FHD

[-JR-]

I too have been hurt at work .
Got driven to a medi centre with the manger .
Dr asks ...Is there any light duty jobs he can do ?
Manger says yes !
Get back to the shop .
Was told to hang out in the lunch room for 8 hrs a day for the next 6 weeks !
Company rates do not get increased because no missed days from work .

[Talking moose]

I too have been hurt at work .
Got driven to a medi centre with the manger .
Dr asks ...Is there any light duty jobs he can do ?
Manger says yes !
Get back to the shop .
Was told to hang out in the lunch room for 8 hrs a day for the next 6 weeks !
Company rates do not get increased because no missed days from work .

Very common.

[6.5 shooter]

According to WCB, I work 2 jobs (71 hours per week, 52 weeks a year?) and I get 5% raises every year :snapoutofit: So my benefits have dropped every year until I hit 65 then all benefits are then gone, which maybe a good thing, because in the future with their calculations I would be paying them.

If your buddy has not told them what he wants to do? be sure to tell him to tell WCB that he wants to train as a rocket scientist or some thing which once his "training" is done he can make a good living. (because when they asked me I said dispatcher and pumping gas because I figured they were jobs I could do with my injury) So they "trained" me to be a dispatcher at a time when there were zero jobs out there. So learn from my mistake! Once you are "trained" then those hours are deducted from your pay out. If your buddy is like me, I was making good money in the patch and LOTS of hours so in the end it ended up biting me in the back side.

[Sundancefisher]

Just another in a long line of WCB threads here.

Someone VERY close to me has been fighting WCB since last March. They have a completely valid claim and have done everything WCB asked for throughout. Every medical professional who has seen them (that wasn’t affiliated with WCB) has confirmed their injury. I won’t reveal any specific details due to it not being my place, but they work in arguably one of the most noble jobs out there at a place that I know more than a few here have been to and would be so incredibly disgusted & disappointed to here about this happening.

I understand there are so many who have taken advantage of WCB and they need to be on high alert for that. But good lord for those with legitimate claims where multiple health professionals have confirmed that this is legitimate, it’s genuinely cruel the way they treat you—as if being injured bad enough that you cannot work for a period of time is some great holiday, when for lots, sitting at home and only doing activities that rehab the injury is a special hell of its own. Everything is designed around getting you back to work ASAP regardless of what the medical professionals who work with you constantly say. They bully and intimidate everyone, not only those with a claim but any of their medical professionals they see.

And worse, in this case there is some fairly strong evidence of a LOT of shady and illegal things that have been done, completely not following their own proper procedures. They expect you to wait for their beck and call and always have to be accessible to them, but they seem to purposely be as hard to get in contact with as possible. I could honestly write a 20 page essay on how bizarre and cruel they have truly acted throughout this entire process and only continues to get worse. It’s coming to a point where consulting a lawyer is really looking like the only route, but financially it’s just so tough to justify when WCB pays a reduced portion of salary.

Honestly, not sure if they are just having an especially tough experience and I know not everyone has had bad experience with WCB but seriously, something has to change here.

Rehabbing a severely impactful and painful injury should be the hardest part of having an injury, not dealing with the organization built to help you when you are injured.

End rant… hope everyone has been having a good 2022 thus far.

Does he have any disability insurance?

[BlackHeart]

This organization is not built to help you the worker when you get injured. Think who pays the premiums. It’s to minimize the liability of your employer.

Other thing to note....take a look at WCB’s past financial statement.....you will notice some big fat bonuses to the executive.....for reducing payout costs. Look further, you will find that case workers get bonuses as well for reducing case costs. They also get bonuses for taking courses, paid by WCB and with paid wages.

The WCB consultant “doctors” on their payroll are hacks......they will issue an opinion (contrary to all known medical information and knowledge and other non-conflict-of-interest doctors opinions) without an exam, meeting, medical file, review, etc....that will be favourable to WCB and against your doctors.

And the games will begin.....gotta beef up those bonuses.... I fought my brothers case (for him as his agent) for two years of BS and finally won at the appeal board. The crap and manipulation...or incompetence done would land most people in jail or sued if they were a normal business.

[Immigrant]

I am sorry your friend is not receiving the care he is entitled to. I had an at work accident 2 years ago. Spent 7 days in hospital. My surgeon said this was a significant injury and that I need to do exactly as WCB says, or else I will endure years of hardship. He said to Attend every appointment they make. Fill out every form they send you. Reply to every voicemail and email they send. Give regular updates to them. I did just that and have had excellent service from them. I gave them my work schedule and asked them to book my specialist appointments on my days off ( their max payout does not cover my daily wage so I lose money if I go to an appointment on a work day). My case manager was shocked and said I am the first to ask “not to miss work” because of an appointment. I also asked to book my appointments in the middle of the day to avoid hotel and meal costs for out of town appointments (I hate hotels). And so far every appointment was at 12:00.
I also have never had to change doctors or specialists. They somehow believe the ones I have.

[Red Bullets]

For anyone having problems with WCB there advocates and other people to help with claims. This is one place.
https://bluecollarconsulting.ca/?fbclid=IwAR1iserChBRhnp9Qo2HKqU-Y50t8Lwnl0q1dmkJIh7lxQG8UtFmcI6D-YLw

[MrDave]

Here is something that people must learn about how WCB deals with pain. They have an entirely different definition of Chronic Pain, it is completely different than what the medical community uses. To WCB Chronic Pain is a mental condition, where the pain doesn't match the symptoms of the injury. If the doctor writes the patient is unable to work due to chronic pain, and the symptoms actually match the injury then they dismiss the medical evidence.
However, if the doctor writes that the patient suffers from symptomatic pain, not chronic pain, it's vastly different. The doctors need to know this, but they aren't trained in WCB jargon. Chronic pain isn't the right phrase.