Lunch & Learn

Workforce Consultants (Anna Carle & Micheal Smith) and Employment Standards (Cindy Dwyer)

About Workforce Consultants: Workforce Consultants are available across the province to provide employers with tools and resources to help them recruit, retain, and strengthen their workforce. They can connect employers to learn more about: grant funding opportunities, Alberta government programs and services, and deliver labour market information to help prepare and plan for the future.

About Employment Standards: Employment Standards rules set out the minimum standards that employers must provide to employees. There are rules for payment of wages, hours of work, overtime, vacations, general holidays, leaves, termination of employment and other areas like youth employment and industry specific regulations.

Website links: 

• Workforce consultants: https://www.alberta.ca/workforce-contacts-employer-resources
• Employment standards: https://www.alberta.ca/employment-standards

About Prevention and Injury Reduction (PIR) and Workers Compensation Board (WCB):This team, promotes health and safety through partnerships with safety associations, industry groups, and labour organizations through these programs for which employers can join and possibly receive financial benefits.

• Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) – A voluntary program in which employers and worker representatives work collaboratively to build effective occupational health and safety management systems in their own workplaces. By improving health and safety, the human and financial costs of workplace injury and illness will be reduced.
• Certificate of Recognition (COR) – Employers earn a Certificate of Recognition (COR) by developing and implementing an occupational health and safety management system that meets the provincial standards as measured by an audit process. CORs are issued by the department (PIR) and the Certifying Partner.
• Certifying Partners – A Certifying Partner is an association that works in partnership with the department and the WCB. Certifying Partners provide employer and auditor training, certify auditors, conduct quality assurance reviews of completed audits, and co-sign the CORs with PIR.
• WCB Refunds – The Workers' Compensation Board – Alberta (WCB) offers premium refunds to eligible employers who have earned and maintained their COR. The refunds range from a minimum of 5 percent for having and maintained a COR, up to a maximum of 20 per cent for reducing claims and costs below expected targets. The WCB tracks performance and provides individual performance reports to COR holders. ​​​​​​​

Website links: 

• Partnerships in Injury Reduction: https://www.alberta.ca/partnerships-injury-reduction
• Worker's Compensation Board: https://www.wcb.ab.ca/

About OHS-SEA: The Strategic Evidence and Action (SEA) unit supports OHS Prevention Services' focus on preventing occupational illness, injury and fatalities. We use solution-targeted innovation to

• Conduct research and surveillance activities, and use this information to set evidence-based priorities.
• Develop OHS information and education resources to engage and support staff and stakeholders.
• Promote positive health and safety work cultures and encourage all stakeholders – including government, health and safety associations, Certifying Partners, WCB and job creators – to play their role in prevention.
• Continuously evaluate the OHS System's effectiveness in preventing occupational illnesses, injuries and fatalities.
• OHS-SEA - assists in providing support to employers through their Occupational Health and Safety resource portal and works with businesses to identify hazardous work and mitigate the risks and maintaining a safe, fair and healthy workplace.

About Biz Connect and Small Business Supports: Biz Connect provides supports to help Alberta entrepreneurs and small businesses start, grow and succeed.

Website links:

• Biz Connect and Small Business Resouces: https://www.alberta.ca/small-business-resources

 Strategic Evidence and Action (SEA) Links: 

• Occupational Health and Safety
• OHS Resource Portal has resources covering many topics for employers, supervisors, workers, young workers and more. My area also supports the OHS Legislation Search Tool and eNews, a monthly newsletter with the latest OHS news and events.

Bio SEA: 

Katherine Launier is an effective practices consultant with the Strategic Evidence and Action team. This team develops externally facing information resources that enables employers, workers and other work site parties to improve awareness, education and the ability to take positive OHS actions that support a culture of health and safety in the province and supports the prevention of workplace illness and injury.