Latest news in Disability management

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
The challenges of terminating benefits for employees on disability

The challenges of terminating benefits for employees on disability

Canadian employers are generally familiar with dealing with employees with disabilities from the outset of a condition through to accommodation and helping them return to work…

  • April 26, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
WSIB shares experience implementing PTSD legislation

WSIB shares experience implementing PTSD legislation

When it comes to mental-health challenges in the workplace, the focus is shifting to prevention and early intervention rather than diagnosis and treatment, according to the head…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • April 11, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
‘Welcome news’ in B.C. court statement on non-culpable absenteeism

‘Welcome news’ in B.C. court statement on non-culpable absenteeism

What’s an employer to do when it faces benefits costs for employees on long-term disability for up to 10 years? Earlier this year, the B.C.…

91% of employers implement mental-health standard because it’s ‘right thing to do’

91% of employers implement mental-health standard because it’s ‘right thing to do’

While nearly half (47 per cent) of employers implemented the national standard of Canada for psychological health and safety in the workplace to save money,…

  • By: Staff
  • March 21, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:25
Essex County library workers end strike, agree to new disability policy

Essex County library workers end strike, agree to new disability policy

Library workers in Essex County, Ont. are back on the job today after nearly eight months on strike. The major sticking point in negotiations was…

WSIB makes formulary public and searchable

WSIB makes formulary public and searchable

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has made its drug formularies publicly available and searchable. “Improving transparency and our service orientation in relation to our…

  • By: Staff
  • January 27, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:14
Why engagement is critical to managing short-term disability leaves

Why engagement is critical to managing short-term disability leaves

When support staff working for British Columbia’s public education system call in sick for up to six consecutive days, they receive notification from a union…

  • By: Jann Lee
  • January 17, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 08:52
New report highlights correlation between LTD claims and the economy

New report highlights correlation between LTD claims and the economy

Long-term disability rates will decrease by 3.2 per cent on average through the first half of this year compared to the last half of 2016,…

  • By: Staff
  • January 12, 2017 September 13, 2019
  • 09:48
Top 10 health and benefits stories of 2016

Top 10 health and benefits stories of 2016

There was a lot to talk about in the health and benefits space in 2016, from the continuing climb of drug plan costs, questions around…

  • By: Staff
  • December 28, 2016 September 13, 2019
  • 08:54
Mercer Canada appoints new total health management leader

Mercer Canada appoints new total health management leader

Mercer Canada has appointed Alex Boucher as total health management leader for Canada. Based in the organization’s Halifax officer, Boucher joins Mercer with nearly 20…

  • By: Staff
  • December 16, 2016 September 13, 2019
  • 08:39
Look beyond plan design and expenses to control benefit costs

Look beyond plan design and expenses to control benefit costs

Achieving success at anything doesn’t just happen. In his 2008 book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell suggested the biggest contributing factor to success among those who are…

  • December 6, 2016 September 13, 2019
  • 09:47
How to use analytics to improve your benefits plan

How to use analytics to improve your benefits plan

When 3sHealth wanted to look at its dental plan design, prescription drug deductibles and the impact of new benefit enhancements, the first step was to…