Their eligibility in terms of our suite of benefits starts when they have an accident on the job that's allowable. Following that, we assess their ability to earn. If they are unable to earn anything, then we will pay them the full amount, 85% of their net...while they are recovering, and we get them into treatment, etc.
We focus on abilities. So, at the very beginning, if the worker is able, it's part of the employer's obligation to offer modified work. If that modified work is at a wage loss, then we will compensate the worker 85% of the net difference. Even if they could work two hours a day, as I explained a little earlier, we would compensate the worker for 85% of the difference.
If the worker were to start a home business, that's a little different because they are taking themselves outside that employer/employee relationship in terms of our claim, and that would indicate to us that the worker has abilities and we'd go back to the employee and say, “If you can work at home, you can work with your employer.” If the employer, for some reason, shuts down or is unable to return someone to their employment, then we'd look at the worker's abilities and opportunities beyond the accident employer. We'd go through an assessment of their abilities to earn outside of the accident employer based on their current skills and abilities. We would then start a rehabilitation program tailored to them in order to maximize their earnings potential, and would support them through the schooling or whatever is required for that. Then we would hopefully place them in a job.