WSIB doubles rebates in 2023 for smaller businesses

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) says it will extend its program of extra financial incentives for small businesses that participate in the Health and Safety Excellence Program (HSEP).

Extended benefits first announced in June 2022, will now be extended through 2023, meaning businesses with 99 or fewer employees can:

  • earn double the rebates in both 2022 and 2023
  • receive $1,000 towards their health and safety plan in both 2022 and 2023

“Joining our Health and Safety Excellence program and receiving the added benefits is a no-brainer for many smaller businesses,” said Jeffery Lang, President and CEO of the WSIB. “We know smaller businesses are still recovering from the pandemic, so it’s a crucial time for us to double up on our support and incentives. Every business that invests in health and safety means fewer injuries in the long run.”

The Health and Safety Excellence program connects businesses across Ontario with approved providers to create a plan based on 36 available health and safety topics. For each topic completed, businesses can earn rebates on WSIB premiums. Since its 2020, the program has distributed over $25 million in rebates and smaller business enrollment has increased by 60 per cent since additional benefits were first announced in June 2022.

“The WSIB’s Health and Safety Excellence program reinforces that improving safety in the workplace is not just good practice, it’s good for business,” said Rocco Rossi, president and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “We’re pleased that the WSIB is continuing to offer double rebates into 2023 as it will incentivize many of our smaller business members to continue to invest in their workplace safety and improve their safety culture while saving money on premiums.”

Visit wsib.ca/healthandsafety to learn more about the Health and Safety Excellence program and how to start improving their workplace safety today.

“We applaud the WSIB for continuing to offer additional incentives to the end of 2023, allowing even more small businesses to double their rebates while creating safer workplaces,” Ryan Mallough, vice-president, legislative affairs (Ontario), Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said in a statement. “This is especially important coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, as 60 per cent of Ontario’s small businesses still aren’t back to normal revenue levels.”

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