The Face to Face Disability Management Forum, held on May 25, 2011, at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel, brought together more than 100 plan sponsors, group insurers, benefits consultants, pharmaceutical representatives and other stakeholders to discuss effective disability management strategies. Read Part 1 of our coverage. Chronic pain is one of the most common causes […]
Reader Alert: This is Part 1 in a two-part series. Read Part 2. Addiction, mental illness, unhealthy lifestyles…employee disability can stem from a number of causes. Workplace absences related to these disabilities place a significant burden on Canadian employers, accounting for an estimated 4% to 12% of payroll costs, according to 2002 research from Wilson, Joffe […]
The Ontario government is proposing an amendment to the province’s Employment Standards Act that would give workers unpaid time off should they need to care for a friend or family member with a serious injury or illness. Ontario currently offers a family medical leave plan that allows people to take an eight-week unpaid leave of […]
Watch this video When it comes to disability management, early communication between the company and its benefits provider is key, particularly when dealing with complex or contentious issues, says Adrian Ebrahimi, manager of Canadian benefits for TD Bank Financial Group. For his organization, forming a collaborative relationship with the vendor and addressing issues at an […]
In 2007, the Canadian division of Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) underwent a significant change, revamping its business culture and employee benefits. It was an enormous task, and the corporation faced a number of challenges along the way. Change of direction According to Lynda Newcomb, vice-president, HR, BMS Canada wanted to create an entrepreneurial culture in which […]
Morneau Shepell has launched a new educational initiative for its professionals who counsel clients in disability management (DM). The new Health Management Centre of Learning, which is a partnership with the University of Fredericton in New Brunswick, offers advanced online training in the fundamentals of DM. “Disability management is constantly changing,” says Zahid Salman, executive […]
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a musculoskeletal condition that affects about 1% of Canadians. If RA is not diagnosed early and treated properly, it can place a heavy financial burden on plan sponsors. RA is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation in the lining of the joints. It is a systemic disease, which means it […]
Employees who take a mental health leave are more likely to experience a recurrence earlier than those who take a physical health leave, according to a study from the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The study found that employees who take a physical health leave average nearly four years before experiencing a […]
Watch this video Migrating the HR claims process from a paper-based environment to an automated solution can help organizations streamline processes and increase efficiency. But organizations need solutions that work for their unique needs. Shirley Powell, manager, HR planning, systems and rewards, with Toronto Hydro Corp., says the organization is currently seeking a solution to […]
An employer must accommodate an employee with any kind of health concern—whether physical or mental—up to the point of undue hardship. “The right to accommodate is a human right,” said Michael Lynk, an associate professor and associate dean of The University of Western Ontario’s Faculty of Law, speaking Thursday at The Canadian Institute’s forum on […]