There are now new simplified, standardized forms for group short-term disability and ongoing long-term disability claims. The two new forms will be accepted by all…
The Ontario government has changed its mind and now intends to give ex-Nortel employees the choice to opt out of a windup plan for their…
One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, according to a 2002 Health Canada report. In any year, 12% of Canadians…
Although untracked absenteeism often strains benefits budgets, most employers don’t do much about it. But Leo LeBlanc, vice-president of HR and corporate affairs at Co-op…
Most employees, given the opportunity, would rather return to work as soon as possible after being off with an illness. And most employers are only…
Manulife Financial has rolled out a new long-term disability program designed for executives and professionals. The Executive LTD program is available as a group benefit…
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) strikes only about 1% of the population. That percentage, however, translates to almost 30,000 cases in British Columbia alone last year, making…
In accommodating an employee with a physical and/or mental disability in the workplace, the employer must follow a number of guidelines, but these should be…
From a financial and workplace perspective, most employers understand the need to manage casual absence and disability claims properly—but the devil of disability management is…
1 The RDSP has its own abilities and disabilities HR Managers should do their homework on the new Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) before discussing…
The prognostications of how long this economic downturn will last are as varied as the number of economists who have dared to venture a guess,…
HR Managers should do their homework on the new Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) before discussing RRSPs and TFSAs with disabled employees. Otherwise they may…
Employers today are facing tough business decisions relating to their benefits plans driven by the difficult economic environment. In particular, they may need to consider…
When it comes to dealing with short-term disability, employers may have more options available than they think. A company’s goal is to generate revenues that…
Canadian income security benefit programs are fragmented and disorganized and have resulted in disparate delivery of benefits to workers with disabilities, according to a study.…
The design of most long-term disability plans can best be described as “too little too late,” leaving employees in an unfortunate but predictable situation. Group…
Following on the heels of its recent decisions in McGill University Health Centre and Honda Canada Inc. v. Keays, the Supreme Court of Canada has…
The recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in Keays v. Honda Canada appears to be the continuation of a shift toward a more moderate judicial…
As disability management becomes more complex, plan sponsors should consider a global approach to preventing absence and returning ill or injured employees to the workplace…
Honda Canada was before the Supreme Court last week in an effort to have an Ontario Court’s landmark ruling of discrimination against a former employee…
Delving deeper into disability management issues can help employers reduce costs and employees overcome barriers that may prevent their return to work. Most employers understand…
When managing disability in the workplace, employers should know both the legal considerations and their rights. Disability management is an increasingly complex process. When faced…
Manulife Financial has been contracted by Canada Post to implement its absence solution product for their national disability management program. It represents the largest sale…
It’s important for insurers and plan sponsors to address the possibility of mental distress before curtailing any type of benefits from a plan member. In…
Fifteen to 20 years ago, the approach to managing disability claims was a little like an assembly line. Employers handed over a claim to insurers…