You have the right to apply for Workers Compensation Benefits if you have been injured at work, or develop an illness caused by your work, no matter how minor. Visit the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Manitoba’s website on How to Report an Injury for detailed steps on how to file a claim and seek medical attention.
Injured workers applying to WCB or appealing a WCB decision, or union staff or activists who are assisting injured workers with a WCB claim or appeal are encouraged to consult the MFL’s WCB Resource Guide for Worker Advocates for much more information on navigating the WCB system. The MFL also offers a two-day course for union activists on ‘Supporting Injured Workers with WCB Claims’ offered as part of our annual Health and Safety Conference.
All workplace injuries should be reported to your employer. All injuries that require medical attention or cause you to miss work should be reported to the WCB. Even minor injuries should be reported. Some injuries and occupational illnesses develop over time. A worker's notes about a minor work injury or illness can be used down the road to trace how work may have caused or played a significant part in a more serious injury or illness that develops later.
If you don’t report an injury:
It is illegal for employers to pressure you not to report or pursue a WCB claim – that’s claim suppression and it’s against the law. It’s also against the law for employers to take any discriminatory action against a worker for reporting an injury or filing a WCB claim. If you experience any type of claim suppression or discriminatory action, be sure to tell your union and the WCB. Employers can be fined and prosecuted.
For more information about claim suppression and discriminatory action, please see pages 33-34 of the WCB Act Legislative Overview or Section19.1(1) of The Workers Compensation Act.
You have a right to appeal WCB decisions about your claim. WCB decisions that are commonly appealed by workers include:
In making an appeal, you can check in with your union and also seek help from the Worker Advisor Office, a free and confidential service, independent from the WCB: 945-5787 (Winnipeg) or toll-free at 1-800-282-8069 (outside Winnipeg).
The Worker Advisor Office is available to: