November 9, 2020
WorkplaceNL holds discounted average assessment rate at $1.69
St. John’s, NL – Effective January 1, 2021, WorkplaceNL will hold the average assessment rate paid by employers at $1.69 per $100 of payroll, including a temporary $0.21 discount.
The temporary discount is to reduce the surplus in the employer-funded Injury Fund – which was 123.4 per cent funded at December 31, 2019, over its target of 110 per cent. However, the value of the Injury Fund has fluctuated in 2020, primarily due to economic uncertainty created by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.
“WorkplaceNL is pleased to be financially able to hold the discounted average assessment rate for employers steady for 2021 during the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 public health emergency,” said Dennis Hogan, CEO, WorkplaceNL. “However, rising claims costs, as well as uncertain assessable payroll and volatile investment markets due to the global pandemic, are having an impact on the Injury Fund. If this results in the funded position falling below the 110 per cent target, the temporary discount may be removed within the next few years – earlier than expected.”
Payments for work-related injury or illness have increased in the last five years, from $132 million in 2015 to $157 million in 2019. Payments for 2020 are on track to be higher than 2019.
While the lost-time incidence rate has held at 1.6 per 100 workers for the past five years, more serious injuries, longer claim duration and recent changes to increase benefits are contributing to higher claims costs.
The Maximum Compensable and Assessable Earnings (MCAE) will increase by 1.5 per cent, from $66,980 to $67,985 for 2021 – the highest in Atlantic Canada. This reflects the annual Consumer Price Index adjustment. Wage-loss benefits for injured workers submitting a new claim whose pre-injury earnings are at or above $67,985 will be calculated using this new limit starting January 1, 2021.
Notices of assessment rates for employers will be online by the end of November. Employers who have not yet done so are encouraged to register for a connect (online services) account.
More information is in the backgrounder below.
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About WorkplaceNL
Serving approximately 13,000 injured workers and 17,500 employers, WorkplaceNL administers an employer-funded, no-fault insurance system that promotes safe and healthy workplaces, provides return-to-work programs and offers compensation to injured workers and their dependents.
Media contact:
Carla Riggs, Director of Communications
709.778.1590 or carla.riggs@workplacenl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Discounted Assessment Rate
• The temporary $0.21 average discount is in place to reduce the surplus in the Injury Fund.
• The Injury Fund was 123.4 per cent funded at December 31, 2019, over its target of 110 per cent.
• 2021 will be the third consecutive year for the temporary discount.
• The discount may be removed earlier than expected as many factors impact the surplus, including rising claims costs and uncertainty in investment markets due to COVID-19.
• Employers pay assessments to cover expected costs of work-related injury and illness, return-to-work programs, prevention initiatives and administration.
• Industry sectors with more injuries and higher claims costs typically pay higher assessments.
• Employers can lower their assessment rates through refunds under the PRIME program – by meeting occupational health and safety practice requirements and managing claims costs through effective early and safe return-to-work programs.
Statistics
• In 2021, approximately 57 per cent of employers will see their assessment rate increase; 43 per cent will see their assessment rate decrease or stay the same.
• The average assessment is increasing in seven sectors while decreasing or staying the same in 11 sectors.
• In 2019, the lost-time incidence rate was 1.6 per 100 workers, and has remained relatively stable over the past five years.
• The assessment rate has decreased 18 per cent over five years, and 39 per cent over ten years – and remains the lowest it has been in over 35 years.