A number of changes to Alberta's Workers'
Compensation Act (the "Act") took effect January 1,
2021 and April 1, 2021. This blog serves as a reminder to Alberta
employers of the recent legislative changes with respect to
work-related injuries.
Key Changes to the Act - Effective January 1, 2021:
Egregious Conduct
In the event a worker is terminated from modified work due to
their own willful egregious conduct, the Workers' Compensation
Board ("WCB") will pay benefits as though the modified
work is still in place and their entitlement to temporary wage loss
benefits may be reduced or suspended.
To be "egregious conduct", the worker's conduct
must be outstandingly or flagrantly bad to a reasonable person. WCB
has indicated that circumstances that may involve egregious conduct
include, but are not limited to, a breach of an employer or
professional safety standard, rule, or policy; violence, including
aggressive, threatening behavior; sexual harassment or
