Latest news in Disability management

B.C. appeal court dismisses injured veterans’ pension claims

B.C. appeal court dismisses injured veterans’ pension claims

The British Columbia Court of Appeal has dismissed injured veterans’ pension claims against the federal government because they had “no chance of success.” “It’s difficult…

Manulife announces five pilot projects aimed at mental-health, musculoskeletal issues

Manulife announces five pilot projects aimed at mental-health, musculoskeletal issues

Manulife Financial Corp. is has announced a series of pilot projects aimed at improving health outcomes for group benefits plan members dealing with mental-health issues,…

  • By: Staff
  • November 30, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:37
How to bridge the insurer, physician divide in disability management

How to bridge the insurer, physician divide in disability management

Despite mental health accounting for more than 30 per cent of long-term disability claims, there’s a disconnect between medical practitioners and insurers that unwittingly impedes…

Best practices for return-to-work committees

Best practices for return-to-work committees

In one episode of the television show The Office, salesman Stanley Hudson has a heart attack during a workplace fire drill. A few days later,…

Court dismisses age discrimination appeal in long-term disability case

Court dismisses age discrimination appeal in long-term disability case

A recent Court of Appeal of Alberta dismissal of a case relating to age discrimination and the eligibility of receiving long-term disability benefits provides some…

Employers, benefits plans intervene in appeal over medical marijuana coverage

Employers, benefits plans intervene in appeal over medical marijuana coverage

A number of employers and benefits plans were in court this week in support of the Canadian Elevator Industry Welfare Trust Fund’s appeal of a…

Four considerations for employers around disability management

Four considerations for employers around disability management

When illness or disability strikes an employee, it can disrupt the whole team. It’s important for every employer to put an integrated structure and sound…

Manulife to allow plan members to submit all benefits claims online, through mobile app

Manulife to allow plan members to submit all benefits claims online, through mobile app

Members of group benefits plans provided by Manulife Financial Corp. will now be able to submit any type of claim online and through the insurer’s…

  • By: Staff
  • September 21, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:50
Sun Life to look at effectiveness of pharmacogenetics on plan members

Sun Life to look at effectiveness of pharmacogenetics on plan members

Sun Life Financial will be offering plan members on short- and long-term disability leave for depression or anxiety the chance to take part in a…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • August 25, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:30
Mental-health first aid training targets rising disability concerns in electricity sector

Mental-health first aid training targets rising disability concerns in electricity sector

With mental health as an aspect of workplace disability on the rise in the electricity sector, Electricity Human Resources Canada has introduced an online portal…

The case for medium-term disability management

The case for medium-term disability management

Many employees falsely believe that a disability means they can no longer engage in meaningful work, as their condition is now a defining aspect of…

  • By: Liz Scott
  • August 15, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:51
B.C. township gets another chance to argue for terminating workers on LTD

B.C. township gets another chance to argue for terminating workers on LTD

A B.C. municipality will get another chance to make its case for terminating three employees on long-term disability with no hope of coming back to…

  • By: Staff
  • July 24, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:05
Arbitrator highlights role of disability management process in ruling in worker’s favour

Arbitrator highlights role of disability management process in ruling in worker’s favour

In a reminder to employers to be diligent about using their own disability management processes before terminating an employee, an Alberta arbitrator has ruled against a company…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • July 24, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:53
Supreme Court won’t hear ex-Nortel employee’s appeal over disability benefits

Supreme Court won’t hear ex-Nortel employee’s appeal over disability benefits

The Supreme Court of Canada won’t hear an appeal from a former Nortel Networks Corp. employee who claimed her charter rights were violated over the…

  • By: Staff
  • July 21, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 13:31
Court finds working notice moot for employee on medical leave

Court finds working notice moot for employee on medical leave

A recent decision by the Superior Court of Ontario has confirmed that working notice doesn’t count when an employee is away from work due to…

Alberta workplace review includes more ‘worker-centred’ processes

Alberta workplace review includes more ‘worker-centred’ processes

An independent review panel has provided the Alberta government with a report that includes 60 recommendations to restructure the province’s Workers’ Compensation Board and its…

B.C. benefits trust successful in double-dipping case

B.C. benefits trust successful in double-dipping case

When it comes to wage indemnity benefits, employees can’t double-dip even if they’ve been successful in a human rights case, the Supreme Court of British…

Tips for employers to prepare for legalization of recreational marijuana

Tips for employers to prepare for legalization of recreational marijuana

With recreational marijuana set to become legal in Canada next summer, employers have limited time to prepare for the coming changes, attendees at a presentation sponsored by…

More Canadians seeking CPP disability benefits have denials overturned on appeal

More Canadians seeking CPP disability benefits have denials overturned on appeal

Nearly half the Canadians who seek to have decisions denying them access to Canada Pension Plan disability benefits are successfully appealing the rulings, according to…

Employers underestimate prevalence of chronic disease

Employers underestimate prevalence of chronic disease

At just 32 per cent, plan sponsors continue to underestimate the presence of chronic conditions among their employees, according to the 2017 Sanofi Canada health-care…

  • By: Staff
  • May 29, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:04
Employers challenged to respond to rising impact of chronic disease

Employers challenged to respond to rising impact of chronic disease

With more older workers staying in the labour market, the challenge of accommodating chronic diseases will only grow, a researcher told Benefits Canada’s Chronic Disease at…

Aggravated damages overturned in benefits communications case

Aggravated damages overturned in benefits communications case

A B.C. company has scored a partial victory in its battle against a ruling that ordered it to pay $90,000 in damages to an employee…

  • By: Staff
  • May 16, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:41
Sounding Board: Employers fear WSIB mental-health claims will put them out of business

Sounding Board: Employers fear WSIB mental-health claims will put them out of business

A controller of a food producing operation asked me recently, “What do you think is the next trend in group benefits affecting employers?” One issue came…

WSIB seeking input on work-related chronic mental stress policy

WSIB seeking input on work-related chronic mental stress policy

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is seeking public feedback on its plans to support employees who suffer from work-related chronic mental stress. The organization’s…

  • By: Staff
  • May 5, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:58
Uber subsidizes benefits for U.K. drivers

Uber subsidizes benefits for U.K. drivers

Uber drivers in Britain are now eligible for certain employee benefits. After completing 500 trips, active drivers can join the Association of Independent Professionals and…

  • By: Staff
  • May 2, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 10:24