As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring your workplace is safe. This means:

• your machinery and equipment are well designed, properly maintained and do not pose a risk;
• you have safe work procedures in place to prevent or reduce the risk of occupational illnesses and injuries, and these procedures are followed;
• you provide thorough, job-specific training to your workers;
• your workers know about hazards and how to protect themselves;
• your workers know about their rights, responsibilities and duties;
• you mentor any young workers and provide detailed instructions about the job and how to do it safely;
• you ensure your employees are overseen by competent supervisors;
• you carry all the duties and responsibilities of a supervisor;
• you have adequate first aid on site;
• you report a serious injury or illness immediately;
• you record any workplace incidents, regardless of the severity;
• you keep records of incidents for three years to protect your employee in the event of unforeseen complications and, also, to safeguard your investment in the insurance program. Your records will help your employees get the benefits you paid for;
• you support health and safety activities and document what you have done.

You can find a copies of the Act and Regulations on the Government of Yukon website.

A “proprietor” is a self-employed individual who carries on or engages in an industry.  The Act does not automatically cover you as a proprietor.  A proprietor can apply to purchase optional coverage from the WSCB.  With the purchase of optional coverage, you will be deemed an employer and a worker under the legislation.  You, as the employer, will be immune from civil lawsuits resulting from work-related injuries and if you suffer a work-related injury you will be eligible for compensation benefits

Yes, you do. The business activities of  an employer includes management, administration, marketing and other functions which are supportive of, incidental, or integral to the employer’s primary business activity.  Office staff are considered ancillary to your primary business activity, so you must pay the same premiums on their wages.  The board assigns an employer to the industry class and subclass that best represents the employer’s primary business activity in the Yukon regardless of the occupation of individual workers.

If your business is incorporated you are required to have an account with the board, if you hire workers, part time or full time, your business is required to have WSCB coverage for your workers. You must register with the WSCB within 10 calendar days of hiring your first worker. An employer who fails to meet registration requirements may face additional administrative fees,  interest charges and other penalties.

If you believe your business has not been classified correctly, contact WSCB at 867-667-5645 or Toll Free at 800-661-0643 to discuss your concerns.

As part of the employer registration process, employers are required to provide a detailed description of their business activities in order for the WSCB to properly classify the business.  If there are errors in that description or simply not enough information was provided, you can discuss this with the WSCB.

You are required to notify WSCB if the nature of your business activities changes or there are new business activities or  changes to your operations as soon as possible. Timely notification is very important, as this may impact your rates.

 If you require further help regarding possible misclassification, please contact our office.

The subcontractor may be required to be registered with the WSCB and have coverage, depending on whether not they have workers in the Yukon and whether they are doing work in the Yukon for more than 10 days during a year.

A contractor or subcontractor who hires workers in the Yukon is required to register as an employer with WSCB and pay assessment premiums for their workers' coverage.

A contractor who is a proprietor (with no other workers) who has not purchased optional coverage, or may not be eligible for optional coverage, who does work in an industry for another employer (you) in that industry, may be deemed by the board to be your workers and you may be held responsible for covering them while they work for you.  This applies if the subcontractor is performing work in the same industry, in the Yukon, at your workplace.

You can protect yourself by requesting a clearance letter from the WSCB to ensure the subcontractor is in good standing with regards to their assessments, or requiring them to obtain optional coverage, if they are eligible, before they come onto your worksite.

A clearance letter—also referred to as a “letter of good standing” or a “compliance letter”—is proof that a company or individual currently has an account in good standing with WSCB.

Employers can withhold funds from contractors or subcontractors until they receive confirmation they have paid their workers’ compensation assessment premiums. The clearance letter provides confirmation that the contractor or subcontractor does not have any outstanding premiums with WSCB and you can safely authorize the release of final payment.

You should request a clearance letter  for any contractor or subcontractor you are thinking of hiring. Otherwise, you might be responsible for the premiums associated with  covering them while they work for you.