Working with an injury, illness or disability

Services of the Stay at Work/Return to Work Program include: 

• early intervention, support and advice when a short or long-term workplace medical accommodation is required
• assistance with modifying faculty and staff’s job demands while they're dealing with an illness, injury or chronic medical condition
• advice to everyone impacted, including faculty and staff, managers, department heads, supervisors, human resources personnel, unions and professional associations.
• referrals to and funding for treatment programs as appropriate.

 An advisor will:

• answer questions you may have about managing an illness, injury or other medical condition/impairment in the workplace
• explain the general benefits you may be able to receive during a sick leave and how to apply for them
• communicate with physicians and clinicians in writing to collect information about your physical or cognitive limitations to help plan your return to work or help arrange a workplace accommodation
• advise your manager, department or other key stakeholders that you require a medical accommodation, and work with all involved parties to develop and implement an appropriate plan
• provide ongoing support throughout the Stay at Work/Return to Work process
• only share your personal information on a need-to-know basis with others who may be involved in the process and in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act section 26 (c).
• discuss available funded treatment programs and make a referral for you to access these programs

Every situation is unique and your advisor will work with you to determine the next steps to help support you in the workplace. Generally speaking, working with the Stay at Work/Return to Work program will include:

1. Introductions – Meet your advisor on the phone or in-person. We can discuss your job and the tasks that you perform and how your medical condition may be impacting you in the workplace.
2. Visit your doctor – We may ask you to take a form to your doctor so that we can begin planning ways to support you in the workplace.
3. Share your ideas – Tell your advisor about the tasks you think you are able to perform and what you need to support you at work. Be open and willing to discuss the ideas of others, including your advisor and your manager.
4. The plan –We’ll put together a formalized plan detailing your return to work or your workplace accommodations to help you remain in the workplace.
5. Work according to the plan – Your plan is designed to help you come back to work or remain at work safely. As you continue to work according to the plan, we’ll check-in with you and your manager to see how you’re doing. We may have to adjust your plan if challenges arise, which may include input from your healthcare provider.
6. Plan complete – Ideally, once your plan is complete and you are working successfully, we will close your file. You can contact us anytime in the future if your ability to continue working changes.

Report all incidents and accidents to your supervisor and online through the UBC centralized accident/incident reporting system (CAIRS) and to WorkSafeBC as soon as possible.

Reporting serves as documented evidence if the incident evolves into a claim and you require workers compensation. In addition, reporting is an important piece in maintaining a safe work environment for everyone.

For more information about injuries and accidents in the workplace, visit the Safety & Risk Services website.

Not all workplace accidents require you to submit a WorkSafeBC claim. You'll only need to complete a WorkSafeBC claim form describing your accident or injury if you:

• were injured at work and require medical treatment, or
• will likely be off work beyond the day of the incident.

WorkSafeBC will evaluate your claim and, if it's accepted, you may be provided with rehabilitation, wage-loss compensation, health care benefits and services.

The WorkSafeBC website provides information about the claims process and will also have the most up-to-date version of the Workers Compensation Act.

Contact an advisor

• Susan Lebrun or 604 822 3162
• Sacha Oddstad or 604 822 0970
• Michael Penney or 604 822 1451
• Grace Wang or 604 822 8766
• Wylie Chan or 604 827 2052

Each advisor is responsible for particular faculties, departments, and units. Find yours below to determine which advisor to contact. 

A

Advanced Research Computing: Grace Wang
Allard School of Law: Susan Lebrun
Animal Care Services: Wylie Chan
Applied Science: Michael Penney
Arts: Susan Lebrun
Athletics and Recreation: Sacha Oddstad

B

Bookstore: Sacha Oddstad
Building Operations: Wylie Chan
Building Operations – Custodial: Grace Wang

C

Campus & Community Planning: Grace Wang
Campus Mail: Wylie Chan
Campus Security: Grace Wang
Career Services: Grace Wang
Centre for Teaching and Learning Technology (CTLT): Grace Wang
Ceremonies & Events: Grace Wang
Chan Centre: Susan Lebrun
Childcare: Sacha Oddstad
Communications and Marketing: Grace Wang
Community Engagement: Grace Wang
Comptroller, Office of the: Sacha Oddstad
Corporate Relations: Grace Wang
Counselling Services: Grace Wang

D

Dentistry: Sacha Oddstad
Development and Alumni Engagement: Susan Lebrun

E

Education: Grace Wang
Energy & Water Services: Wylie Chan
Enrolment Services: Grace Wang
entrepreneurship at UBC: Wylie Chan
Equity and Inclusion: Grace Wang
Extended Learning: Grace Wang

F

Financial Operations: Sacha Oddstad
First Nations House of Learning: Susan Lebrun
Food Services: Sacha Oddstad
Forestry: Sacha Oddstad

G

Go Global: Grace Wang
Government Relations: Grace Wang
Graduate Studies: Grace Wang
Green College: Grace Wang

H

Hiring Solutions: Susan Lebrun
Human Resources: Susan Lebrun

I

Infrastructure Development: Sacha Oddstad
Institutional Programs Office: Wylie Chan
Integrated Renewal Program: Susan Lebrun
International Office: Grace Wang
International Student Development: Grace Wang
International Student Initiative: Grace Wang
IT Services: Sacha Oddstad

L

Land & Food Systems: Sacha Oddstad
Learning Exchange: Grace Wang
Library: Susan Lebrun

M

Medicine: Michael Penney

P

Parking & Access Control Services: Grace Wang
Pension Administration Office: Susan Lebrun
Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies: Wylie Chan
Pharmaceutical Sciences: Susan Lebrun
Planning & Institutional Research (PAIR): Grace Wang
President’s Office: Susan Lebrun
Public Affairs: Grace Wang

R

Research Ethics: Wylie Chan
Research Finance: Wylie Chan
Research Services: Wylie Chan
Safety & Risk Services: Sacha Oddstad
Robson Square: Grace Wang

S

Sauder School of Business: Grace Wang
Science: Michael Penney
Sequencing and Bioinformatics Consortium: Wylie Chan
St. John’s College: Grace Wang
Student Development: Grace Wang
Student Health Services: Grace Wang
Student Housing: Wylie Chan
Support Programs to Advance Research Capacity (SPARC): Wylie Chan

T

Treasury: Sacha Oddstad

U

UBC Community Learning Initiative: Grace Wang
UBC Health: Grace Wang
UBC Press: Grace Wang
UBC Sustainability Initiative (USI)/Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS): Grace Wang
University Counsel: Susan Lebrun
University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO): Wylie Chan

V

Vantage College: Grace Wang