The Honourable Scott FieldingMinister of FinanceRoom 103, Legislative BuildingWinnipeg, MB R3C 0V8Dear Minister:We are pleased to present our 2019 Annual Report and Five Year Plan in accordance with the provisions of The Workers Compensation Act. This report covers the 12-month period from January 1 to December 31, 2019. It includes the statements of accounts required to be kept under the Act.Respectfully submitted,Michael D. Werier ChairpersonLETTER TO THE MINISTER2019 WCB ANNUAL REPORT | 3TABLE OF CONTENTS About the WCB .......................................................................5Vision, Mission and Values ....................................................6Message from the Chairperson ..............................................8Message from the President and CEO .................................10Board of Directors and Board Committees .........................12Enable Successful Return to Work ......................................14Deliver Excellent Service ......................................................16Grow Our People ..................................................................18Year at a Glance ....................................................................20Statistics and Measures .......................................................22SAFE WORK MANITOBANote from the Chief Operating Officer ................................28Create a SAFE Work Culture ...............................................30SAFE Work Manitoba Operating Expenses ........................32FINANCIAL REPORT Management’s Responsibility for Financial Information ..362019 Management Discussion and Analysis.......................37Actuarial Opinion .................................................................43Actuarial Review ...................................................................44Independent Auditor’s Report .............................................45Consolidated Statement of Financial Position ....................47FIVE YEAR PLAN ...................................................................834 | 2019 WCB ANNUAL REPORTABOUT THE WCBThe Workers Compensation Board (WCB) is a mutual workplace injury and disability statutory corporation funded by employer premiums. We are here to insure and support safe and healthy work and workplaces. We put workers and employers at the centre of all we do. We provide them with valued services for injury prevention, compensation and return to health and work while maintaining the integrity of the system. Services and BenefitsIf people are hurt or become ill as a result of their work, the WCB is here to help, offering a wide range of benefits to assist injured workers in returning to health and meaningful work as soon as safely possible. Some of the benefits offered include:• replacement of lost income• payments for healthcare treatments and medication• employment retraining• lump sum payments for permanent impairments• financial support for partners and children in the event of a workplace fatality.As part of the WCB’s commitment to quality service and fair process, injured workers, their dependants and employers may contact the Fair Practices Office (FPO), an independent office that works to ensure fair practices at the WCB. Further information is available at www.fairpracticesofficemb.ca.2019 2.5*2017 2.92016 2.92015 3.02018 2.6PREVENTING WORKPLACE INJURIESTime loss injury rate per 100 full time workers* Estimated, to be confirmed mid-20202019 WCB ANNUAL REPORT | 5Create a SAFE Work CultureEnable Successful Return to WorkDeliver Excellent ServiceGrow our People6 | 2019 WCB ANNUAL REPORTOur VisionA safer Manitoba that fosters prevention and return to work.Our MissionWe provide our customers with value services for insurance, prevention, compensation and return to work, while maintaining the integrity of the system.Our ValuesIntegrity: We treat our stakeholders fairly and honestly, while being accountable and transparent.Caring: We understand the unique needs of our customers and treat them with compassion, dignity and respect.Innovation: We continuously strive to make our systems more responsive, efficient and effective.Collaboration: We work together with our stakeholders to achieve our vision. Our Strategic PrioritiesCreate a SAFE Work Culture – Reduce the number and severity of injuries.Enable Successful Return to Work – Reduce days lost and improve the return to work experience.Deliver Excellent Service – Strive to improve customers’ satisfaction with their WCB experience.Grow Our People – Attract, retain and develop our people to align with our evolving needs.2019 WCB ANNUAL REPORT | 7MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSONSince it was formed in September 1916, the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) has delivered the essential service of workplace injury and disability insurance to Manitoba’s workers and employers. Starting with a staff of 14, the WCB has since grown to meet the diverse needs of Manitoba’s workers and employers. Today, with a staff of approximately 600 working in offices in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson, the WCB insures more than 37,000 employers and their workers, and delivers exceptional injury prevention, compensation and return to work services. As the Board of Directors for the WCB, it is our role to approve and oversee the WCB’s strategic direction and support its journey to deliver quality service to customers. The Board of Directors accomplishes this by bringing representative voices to the table, that include employers, workers and the public interest, and by drawing on Board members’ years of expertise, knowledge and insight in these areas to work in partnership with the WCB’s administration. This year, we said farewell to two Board of Directors members, Chris Lorenc and Sonya Penner. I’d like to personally thank them for their years of service and contributions to helping guide the policies and strategic direction of the WCB.In 2019, the Board of Directors welcomed two new members: Michael Bereziak as an employer representative, and Glenn Hildebrand as a representative for the public interest. The WCB Board of Directors also welcomed Doug Einarson as a new external member of the Audit Committee. We look forward to working with our new and existing Board of Directors members to help the WCB meet its strategic priorities. 8 | 2019 WCB ANNUAL REPORTFor 2019, the Board of Directors provided guidance on numerous initiatives to help the WCB continue its focus on building a safer Manitoba and to support Manitobans when they need us the most. This year, the WCB acted on feedback heard from our partners to review our funding model for industry-based safety programs (IBSPs). The Board of Directors approved changes to the funding model that will now include a cap on the amount employers will pay to access an IBSP and the valued services these organizations provide. These changes are important and will not only help the WCB meet its goal to expand employer access to safety programs and services, but will also help strengthen our partnership with one of our key stakeholders — IBSPs.In a constantly evolving technological landscape, protecting our customers’ information and privacy is a priority. This past year, we continued to review and update our corporate processes to safeguard and enhance customer privacy and ensure greater transparency. The Board of Directors also approved changes to the Status of Workers policy to reflect the evolving nature of work in the province and to address the challenges posed by the new and expanding gig economy. For greater transparency, we introduced a Decision Making policy to ensure that the reasons behind all decisions are clear and that key legal principles and concepts are consistently applied when making decisions under The Workers Compensation Act. At the end of 2019, the Manitoba government introduced legislation to modernize The Workers Compensation Act. The Workers Compensation Amendment Act will implement many of the changes recommended by the Workers Compensation Legislative Review Committee 2016-2017. These changes will help the WCB address the challenges and opportunities of a modern and evolving Manitoba workforce, and help reinforce the WCB’s position as an independent entity. These changes will also help lead the WCB into the future as a stronger organization, with a continued focus on improving its compensation system. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank WCB staff for their work and dedication this past year. We look forward to continuing our work in the coming year to deliver valued services in insurance, prevention, compensation and return to work, while maintaining the integrity of the system for all Manitobans.Michael D. Werier ChairpersonREGISTERED EMPLOYERSOUR CUSTOMERS WORKERS COVERED78%37,7112019 WCB ANNUAL REPORT | 9Next >