Answer: An amount based on your earnings, with certain limitations.

Alternate Duties and Pay Guidelines

When a worker is injured, it is common practice for an employer to offer alternate duties, including tasks that the worker is qualified to perform without risk of further injury. In tree planting, this may include duties such as cleaning in camp, helping in a kitchen, driving trucks, or checking tree quality.

WorkSafeBC Payment Guidelines

A worker assigned to alternate work must be paid based on their past earnings, in accordance with WorkSafeBC guidelines of approximately 90% of net pay. The actual calculation of wages is more complicated, and is laid out in detail by WorkSafeBC, but the 90% payment provides a general guideline. However, there are caps to this pay rate that approximate a maximum of $299.97 a day or up to $2097.12 per week based on 2025 guidelines.

Example of Payment Calculation

Based on these rules, a worker earning an average of $250 a day as a planter may be entitled to up to $225 a day based on $250 x 90% = $225, depending on how their alternate work is structured. However, a worker earning an average of $400 a day would see their maximum wage for alternative work capped at $300, rather than the total of 90% x $400 = $360.

Modified Work and Wage Adjustments

It is also possible for a worker to be offered modification of their existing job to allow them to continue working without involving additional compensation. This may include assigning them to flatter land, shorter and lighter bag-ups, or other changes that will allow them to recover without undue impact on their earnings. If modified work is offered, a worker must accept the offer, so long as it is within their assessed abilities.

Payment Below 90% and WorkSafeBC Top-Up

An employer is permitted to pay a worker LESS than the formula based on the worker’s past earnings. However, if they do so, WorkSafeBC may top up the difference. If a worker earning $250 a day is injured and the company pays them $200 for another assignment, WorkSafeBC may pay the worker the remaining $25 a day as part of a claim to bring them to the $225 rate that they are entitled to.