Koskie Minsky LLP launched a class action lawsuit on Friday on behalf of all veterans who were in receipt of disability pensions or disability awards between 2002 and 2010 from Veteran Affairs Canada. The statement of claim alleges the attorney general, acting through Veteran Affairs Canada, miscalculated the disability pensions and disability awards of veterans during these […]
The Mental Health Commission of Canada attributes nearly one-third of short- and long-term disability claims to mental-health illnesses. As many employers grapple with helping employees receive the treatment they need so they can return to work, the Health Benefit Trust of Alberta has piloted a program that simplifies the process. The problem The trust, a […]
When considering the legal cases attracting the most attention from the pension and benefits industry in 2018, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal’s decision in Talos v. Grand Erie District School Board was one of the most talked about of the year. “This case is important because plan administrators who previously relied on the Employment Standards Act […]
For employees who have been away from the workplace due to mental illness, providing treatment, reducing stigma and getting employees back to work comes down to workplace culture. “Very simply put, employees who feel valued and supported by their employers return to work,” said Michelle Harper, director of national best practices, wellness, disability and life at […]
These days, peace of mind is hard to come by, but the employers at the 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards roundtable centred their discussion around the many ways they can positively contribute towards their workforces’ mental, physical and financial health, particularly when it comes to absenteeism and improving return-to-work processes. “We know that if people are […]
Perseverance, communication and innovation are just a few of the words used to describe Jeff Aarssen. Aarsseen, the recently retired vice-president of group customer sales at Great-West Life Assurance Co., received the award for industry leadership at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards in Toronto on Oct. 11. “It’s very meaningful, personally,” says Aarssen. “It means that 38 […]
While Ontario Power Generation has had a major medical absence program in place for years, it saw an opportunity for a review and update in 2016, leading to changes that solidified its win for best absence management program at Benefits Canada’s 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards on Oct. 11. Working with many stakeholders, including unions, human resources […]
Whether considering age eligibility or policy wording, recent rulings for employees in a pair of Ontario cases are reminders to employers to review their long-term disability offerings. When I’m 65 Ontario employers may no longer have the option to reduce or eliminate health and life insurance benefits for employees aged 65 or older, following the […]
Crawford and Co. Canada Inc. is adding a new software platform, designed to help employees return to work sooner, to its human risk service line. The software, called EmployerWorks, aims to streamline and standardize the collection, communication and analysis of “physical, cognitive and psychosocial demands tied to risk assessment and return to work efforts,” according to a press […]
Among Canadians who have missed work due to disability, 30 per cent cited mental illness, according to a new survey by RBC Insurance. The survey, which questioned about 1,500 Canadians, found that while 65 per cent of respondents, respectively, view physical accidents and multiple sclerosis as disabilities, about half (47 per cent) cited depression as a disability, […]