Modified Work / Modified Duties — Alberta
Modified work (also called modified duties or light duties) refers to temporary changes to a worker's job tasks, hours, or physical demands to accommodate a work-related injury or illness while the worker recovers. In Alberta, offering modified work is a key component of an effective return-to-work program and directly affects WCB claims costs.
When a worker is injured on the job, Alberta employers have both a legal obligation and a financial incentive to offer modified work. Modified work allows an injured worker to remain productive while recovering — reducing WCB claim duration, protecting the employer's experience rating, and supporting worker recovery.
Why modified work matters for WCB costs
WCB-Alberta calculates experience rating based on the cost of claims over a three-year rolling period. The single biggest driver of claim cost is wage replacement — the weekly benefits paid to a worker who cannot work. Modified work eliminates or reduces wage replacement costs by keeping the worker employed.
An employer who consistently offers modified work will have significantly lower claim costs than one who does not — even if the number of injuries is the same. Over a three-year period, this difference can translate to tens of thousands of dollars in WCB premium savings.
What makes a modified work offer valid
A valid modified work offer must: be within the worker's medical restrictions, be genuine work (not make-work), be documented in writing, and be communicated to WCB. WCB may reject a modified work offer if it does not meet these criteria.
The offer should describe the specific tasks, hours, physical demands, and duration. A vague offer ('light duties available') is less effective than a specific one that matches the worker's restrictions.
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