Advisor - Workers Compensation

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As a member of the Rehabilitation Management team, this role is responsible for overseeing and managing employee workers' compensation claims and appeals. They ensure that all employees are supported during their absence due to a work-related illness or injury with care and class, while applying consistent and comprehensive practices to facilitate their recovery and return to a safe and sustainable job.

Responsibilities :

Workers' Compensation Claim Management.

• Gather and review all relevant information to validate each new claim related to a work-related injury or illness and forward reports to the appropriate provincial workers' compensation boards within regulated timeframes.
• Confidently manage workers' compensation claims from claim opening to closure, including cost analysis and oversight.
• Promote retention-at-work options to reduce claim costs and lost workdays.
• Communicate regularly with employees, managers, and workers' compensation boards to help advance claims by closely monitoring treatment plans and identifying return-to-work opportunities.
• Develop a clear and strategic claim management action plan, including communications and follow-ups.
• Challenge claims using workers' compensation board regulations and policies based on validity, status, or duration, using intent-to-contest forms, requests for reconsideration, and medical examinations.
• Undertake reconsideration, medical arbitration, and appeal procedures before provincial tribunals and appeal commissions as a representative of Air Canada within established legislative timeframes.
• Understand, analyze, reduce, and challenge the costs of all claims, including lost-earning reimbursements, treatment plans, or any other related services and fees, when necessary.
• Implement and support the process for writing off costs related to erroneous claims.
• Ensure claim management is conducted ethically and with strict compliance with privacy laws and other relevant laws, policies, and agreements.
• Thoroughly review and understand all necessary information, then forward it to workers' compensation boards or disability insurance providers so they can make informed decisions for each claim, in accordance with operating policies and stakeholder concerns.
• Proactively collaborate with all Air Canada departments, insurance providers (if applicable), and workers' compensation boards to organize, implement, and accelerate a safe and prompt return to work, prioritizing employee health and safety.
• Act as a subject matter expert on workers' compensation operational policies and legislation.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Manager - Rehabilitation Management.

Return to Work and Employee Accommodation

• Ensure proper maintenance of the claim portfolio by ensuring data accuracy, record updates, and workload reporting to accurately reflect the status of each claim.
• Act as a subject matter expert regarding the duty to accommodate employees and prompt return-to-work planning.
• Collect and evaluate standard health guidelines established by workers' compensation boards and current medical restrictions.
• Collaborate with the return-to-work advisor and all relevant stakeholders to support case-specific rapid return-to-work opportunities and strategies, and develop return-to-work plans to ensure employees return to their position or a suitable position upon their return, whether on a temporary or long-term basis.
• Be able to identify, resolve, and manage non-medical barriers.
• Prioritize retention-at-work opportunities by working closely with Air Canada stakeholders to resolve return-to-work barriers.
• Provide support and training to internal and external stakeholders regarding Air Canada's workers' compensation practices.

Qualifications

• At least three years of hands-on experience in disability management with a workers' compensation board or managing workers' compensation claims.
• Strong analytical and critical decision-making skills.
• Initiative, maturity, and the ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with internal and external partners.
• High concentration, task-focused, non-judgmental, and understanding of the limits and scope of practice.
• Proven ability to motivate others.
• Experience in the airline industry and its operations is an asset.
• Strong computer skills, including keyboarding, navigation, and data entry, and experience with the Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience with integrated human resources information systems and claim management systems.
• Practical knowledge of relevant workers' compensation policies, legislation, and principles, as well as employee accommodation.

Education

• Post-secondary diploma in human resources, occupational health, kinesiology, nursing, social sciences, social work, business administration, or a related field. A combination of studies and equivalent rigorous work experience may also be considered.
• Certification from the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) is an asset.

Conditions of Employment :

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country in question at the time an offer of employment is made and are responsible for obtaining work permits, visas, or other necessary authorizations. Proof of eligibility must be provided prior to the start date.

Language Requirements

Bilingualism (English and French).

Diversity and Inclusion

Air Canada is strongly committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible, and rewarding workplace that highlights the unique contribution of our employees to our company's success.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage diverse applications so that we can have a workforce that is varied and representative of our customers and the communities where we live and serve.

Air Canada thanks all applicants for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.