Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
Act Now - The Report of the WCB Legislative Review Panel to the
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4.4.2 Employee Assistance ProgramsSome stakeholders suggested that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Act</strong>s should require employers <strong>to</strong> establishemployee assistance programs. <strong>The</strong>se programs usually provide confidential counselingand o<strong>the</strong>r services <strong>to</strong> employees experiencing alcohol or drug dependency or o<strong>the</strong>rpersonal problems.<strong>The</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> respondents <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Stakeholder Questionnaire thought that employeeassistance programs were a good idea in principle. A significant minority thought suchprograms should be required in legislation.Safety <strong>Act</strong>s in o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions do not require employers <strong>to</strong> have employee assistanceprograms.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> believes such programs are a good idea. However, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> does not think<strong>the</strong>y should be required in safety legislation and is not recommending a change <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>Act</strong>s.4.5 Financial Penalties4.5.1 Authority <strong>to</strong> Set Financial Penalties<strong>The</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> was asked <strong>to</strong> consider whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> Assemblies should continue <strong>to</strong>establish financial penalties or whe<strong>the</strong>r that authority should be moved elsewhere. It waspointed out that <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> financial penalties has not changed in many years. <strong>The</strong>amounts <strong>of</strong> penalties have not kept pace with those <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions.<strong>The</strong> practice in o<strong>the</strong>r jurisdictions varies. In some cases, financial penalties are set inlegislation. In o<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>the</strong> <strong>WCB</strong> Board <strong>of</strong> Direc<strong>to</strong>rs, Minister, or Cabinet prescribefinancial penalties in regulation.<strong>WCB</strong> <strong>Legislative</strong> <strong>Review</strong> <strong>Panel</strong> <strong>Report</strong> Page 99 <strong>of</strong> 128December, 2001