The B.C. Government recently amended it's workers
compensation laws which impose greater obligations on employers to
accommodate injured workers.
On October 31, 2022, Bill 41 – Workers Compensation
Amendment Act (No. 2), 2022 (the "Amending Act") was
introduced to the British Columbia Legislative Assembly and
received Royal Assent on November 24, 2022. The Amending Act
imposes duties and obligations for employers to accommodate and
return injured workers to employment, along with explicit
provisions prohibiting employers from suppressing compensation
claims made by employees, among other new provisions.
Employers and Employees Required to Co-operate
For employers, the most significant amendment to the Workers
Compensation Act, RSBC 2019, c. 1 (the "Act") is the
introduction of Division 3.1 – Return to Work and Other
Duties in Relation to Injured Workers. Under this new division,
there is a statutorily imposed duty on employers to co-operate and
maintain the
