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On Friday, October 26, the WCB awarded the organizations' first-ever Return to Work Award as part of the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce' Manitoba Business Awards ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel.

Presented and judged by the WCB, the award will be presented annually to the Manitoba business that has developed the most outstanding return to work program. All applicants are evaluated based on their ability to develop a culture of return to work in their organization with measurable results.

"Sponsoring a Return to Work Award as part of the Chambers' annual Manitoba Business Awards makes a lot of sense," says Dan Holland, Director, Case Management, "because it raises the importance and profile of return to work in the province through a recognized and respected medium that reaches Manitoba opinion leaders."

The winner of the first-ever Return to Work Award was Federated Co-operatives (Winnipeg Distribution Centre), beating out fellow nominees Actionmargurite and Gardewine Group LP.

The Federated Co-operatives return to work program includes extensive group safety training and cross-training of all employees. Since it was implemented, Federated Co-operatives has reduced their rates and premiums by more than half; lost time due to injury has dropped 90 per cent since 2017, and time loss claims have been reduced by 96 per cent. The Winnipeg Distribution Centre serves 212 Co-op locations in 132 Manitoba communities.

"Federated Co-Op is a deserving winner of the award because they achieved big success across the province and they are a company that acknowledged that they had an issue that needed to be corrected and they then participated fully in finding a solution," says Chris Poot, Manager, Return to Work Program Services.

Each year, the Manitoba Business Awards recognizes businesses from all four corners of Manitoba that have achieved a standard of excellence in the community through their abilities, efforts and initiatives.

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