The number of people who received regular employment insurance benefits increased by 4,400 in February, a rise of one per cent since January, according to new data from Statistics Canada. Most of the increase was observed among those employed in manufacturing and utilities, which rose 4.7 per cent, while there was a smaller increase of 1.6 […]
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ordered a full trial for an employee who sued for $300,000 in long-term disability benefits despite signing a document that released such claims. The decision in Swampillai v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Co. of Canada reverses a lower court decision that summarily found the release to be “unconscionable.” […]
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is partnering with Acclaim Ability Management Inc. to offer one-on-one coaching services to employees on short-term disability leave with mental-health issues. With the goal of getting their employees back to work sooner, employers can choose between two offerings to lower the risk of STD turning into a long-term disability leave. “We’re taking employee support to the […]
Despite repeated promises to fix the mess, the number of veterans waiting to find out whether they qualify for disability benefits has continued to grow, and there are fears the turmoil will only worsen in the coming weeks. New figures from Veterans Affairs Canada show nearly 40,000 veterans were waiting at the end of November […]
Mental Health Works has developed a free resource that is now available to help employers and managers of Ontario businesses looking for ways to address mental health in the workplace. “As public awareness of mental health increases, more and more employers have a desire to provide mental-health support to their employees,” said Jim Harris, director […]
Allstate Benefits is rolling out its critical illness coverage with medical care support services for Canadian employers and employees. When a plan member is diagnosed with a covered critical illness, they receive a cash benefit based on the percentage payable for that condition. The cash benefit can be used for any example; for instance, to cover […]
On Dec. 11, the Mental Health Summit Vancouver highlighted how the stigma surrounding mental illness can be removed from the workplace and what employers can do to help facilitate a comfortable return to work for those with mental-health issues. Here are some of the highlights of the sessions: Dealing with stigma of returning to work […]
With the start of a new year, organizations have new goals and budgets to meet. Many organizations take the new year as an opportunity to take a critical look at current practices and processes, including the way these align with their business goals. One area gaining attention over the years, due to increasing costs, is […]
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 […]