CEO says WCB needs 'unified approach that rallies everyone' around the worker
"We need Nova Scotians working. We need them healthy, and we need them back on the job sooner," says Karen Adams, CEO of the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia, as she outlines a sweeping new plan aimed at transforming how the province manages workplace injuries.
Nova Scotia is grappling with one of the highest injury-related work absence rates in Canada. On average, an injured worker in the province is sidelined for six months—a figure significantly higher than most other regions.
This alarming trend has prompted WCB Nova Scotia to overhaul its approach. As part of its Protect More Strategic Plan, it has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for health services that seeks to reinvent the province’s healthcare services model for injured workers.
The goal is clear—standardization, consistency, and faster, more effective return-to-work outcomes. “It’s not about lacking great healthcare providers,” Adams explains. “Nova Scotia is full of dedicated physios, chiropractors, and specialists. What we need is a unified approach that rallies everyone—providers, employers, and the WCB—around one key focus: the worker.”
At the core of this strategy lies a worker-centric model. Sprains and strains, particularly to wrists and backs, are the most common injuries sidelining Nova Scotians. Under the new system, WCB collaborates closely with healthcare providers to intervene early, ensuring injured workers receive timely, effective care. According to Adams, “We’ve already seen incredible progress. We’ve cut the average number of treatments from 30 sessions to seven, and 90% of injured workers are back on the job within a month.”
This is no small feat. Nova Scotia historically lags, losing over a million workdays annually to injury-related absences. But the tide is beginning to turn. The recent focus on the crucial first 30 days of a claim—supported by medical disability guidelines—has resolved 80% of cases in that initial period. In total, 600 workers have successfully resumed work since the program’s rollout in late 2024.
A critical complement to this effort is the forthcoming duty to cooperate legislation, set to take effect in July. For the first time, both employers and workers in Nova Scotia will be legally required to participate in return-to-work efforts. “It’s about shared responsibility,” Adams stresses. “Employers must accommodate transitional duties, and workers must actively engage in their recovery and stay connected to the workplace.”
The RFP, open until April 14, encourages proposals from healthcare providers across Canada, inviting fresh perspectives to help reshape Nova Scotia’s injury management landscape. Adams is clear on what sets a successful proposal apart: “We want providers who recognize that work is healthy. Remaining connected to work is part of healing. Every outcome must focus on reducing downtime and ensuring injured workers regain their independence and livelihoods quickly.”
For Adams and her team, the stakes are high. Beyond the economic strain, prolonged absences take a toll on the mental and physical well-being of workers themselves. “Changing the culture in Nova Scotia is essential,” Adams says. “Work is part of recovery. And we’re determined to keep our workforce strong, safe, and supported.”
As Nova Scotia strides toward its ambitious target of returning the equivalent of 1,000 positions to the workforce by 2030, the message is clear: the days of long injury-related absences are numbered, and the province is rallying all players—employers, healthcare providers, and workers—to make sure of it.
