The Board of Directors approved the addition of policy item #65.05, Workers Participating in Non-Board Sponsored Return to Work Programs, to Chapter 9 of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II.

Under the new policy, insurance payments may be considered earnings in the calculation of the short-term average earnings of a worker who participates in a non-WorkSafeBC Return to Work program and subsequently sustains a work-related injury, provided that payment relates to the work being performed.

The policy was effective March 1, 2009.