All too often, the inconsistencies in claims management comes from not having a systematic process that you can rely on for ultimate success in reducing disability loss, whether this be financial, or an employee's absence. In today's times, employers make choices on the employee's absenteeism and work record as to how they are going to manage a particular claim. From a Human Rights perspective, [...]
This is an all-too-common occurrence – right? Many organizations have a union and some have multiple unions. Hospitals have at least 5 for the most part. You have to work with them. There is no way around this. When an employer says to me, how do you manage unions or do you have a problem working with unions, I shake my head. Seriously! Why [...]
WSIB has a campaign to eliminate workplace accidents called Road to Zero. In one of my earlier blogs, I wrote that I thought this was impossible. I still believe this today, unfortunately. Accidents happen all the time. The whole point of safety in the workplace is to reduce and/or eliminate them from happening but they continue to happen. With the new Rate Framework to [...]
A recent conversation with a new disability case manager sparked this blog. 'Since the employer is paying my salary, I work for the employer and have their best interest in mind. Right?' Wrong! Your job as a disability case manager is to 'sit on the fence' and represent BOTH sides with integrity and diligence. We do our job by representing the employer but not [...]
I believe in ghosts. Now you may think this is a little too far off the beaten track - the business beaten track - but to be perfectly honest, it isn't. Sometimes, we leave workplace policies, people and behaviors, in our plants, offices and other working environments that just nag at us continuously for years after we tossed them out. So, this is my [...]
Prevention is the KEY to Cost Containment With WSIB’s New Rate Framework Modernization starting January 1, 2020, it is time for employers to decrease their financial impact of work related claims and allow for significant cost containment through prevention utilizing a variety of strategies such as: advanced WSIB trainingonsite occupational health care measuresrecruitment or hiring of health care professionals establishing preferred vendor contractsimplementation of Health [...]
There hasn’t been too many times in my 30 year career in disability management where I’ve met an employee that has been too eager to return to work, but they do pose a big problem when you do have one. disAbility claims management seems to focus on the continuous effort of case managers to move the employees along to a return to work on [...]
Doctors are extremely busy professionals and will provide a ‘note’ regarding an employee’s ability to return to work or to stay off of work when requested. ‘Does it suffice for your work environment’ is the question? The answer is, ‘it depends’. If you provided the doctor with clear expectations as to what needs to be on the note to assist you in the return [...]
With over 30 years as an Occupational Health Nurse in Ontario and I thought that toxic environments were slowly fading but not so much. While we continue to struggle with increasing awareness about Mental Health issues in the workplace, reducing our workplace injuries and managing our absenteeism, a toxic workplace negatively feeds the souls of many employees and management team alike. It has the [...]
This is definitely one of my pet peeves. Rest assured, the insurance carrier you think you have managing your short-term disability, long-term disability and WSIB, ADJUDICATE your claims only! If you are an employer, or a case manager working for an employer, you need to manage your insurance carriers as well as your employees’ claims. The primary purpose of insurance carriers is to adjudicate [...]
