MFL encourages WCB to go back to the drawing board on excessive workload policy

(Winnipeg) – Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) data obtained by the Manitoba Federation of Labour shows that a two-year old policy meant to compensate Manitoba workers who experience extreme levels of burnout (which the WCB terms “excessive workload”) needs to be revamped, MFL president Kevin Rebeck said today. 

“The WCB’s own data shows that most workers who file a claim for mental health injuries suffered from burnout at work are not getting the help that they need,” said Rebeck. “Despite 31 excessive workload claims being made by workers in 2024, fewer than five had their claims accepted. This means that, at best, 13 per cent of claims made last year were accepted, which is pathetic.”

The WCB does not release data that falls below its disclosure threshold of five, so the specific number of claims that were accepted in 2024 is unclear.

Rebeck noted that the number of excessive workload claims made by workers nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, with 16 claims made in 2023. He suggested that this might be due to growing awareness of the WCB’s policy change to start accepting excessive workload claims that came into place on May 1, 2023. He added that the growth in awareness and claims made highlights the need for the WCB to go back to the drawing board to ensure workers who suffer burnout on the job are not falling through the cracks.

“Workers who suffer injuries on the job deserve the same level of support from the WCB, regardless of whether their injuries were physical or mental,” said Rebeck. “After two years, it’s clear that the WCB’s approach to supporting workers who suffer mental injuries from burnout isn’t working. Manitoba’s unions want to work with the WCB and the provincial government on a new approach that will work for workers.”

Rebeck noted that the WCB’s data shows that the rate of acceptance of psychological claims overall has increased from 59 per cent in 2020 to 73.5 per cent in 2024. This suggests that there is a specific problem with the WCB’s excessive workload policy itself.