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Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+. These are powerful social media tools. Their use has proliferated throughout the world giving voice to ordinary citizens. Our Constitution offers Freedom of Speech to all Canadians. However, when it comes to social media rules for workplaces, everyone should take pause. You are not as free as you believe to say whatever you want on this public domain.
One in three Canadians will be disabled for 90 days or more, on at least one occasion, before the age of 65. Some workplaces offer their employees disability benefits as part of their compensation package. These are excellent “peace of mind” benefits. Or are they? Anyone who has tried to apply for these benefits will suggest otherwise.
As an ill or disabled employee, you may have tried to access your employment disability benefits. If so, you already know they are not the “peace of mind” contracts you believed them to be. Almost all short term disability benefits are denied by private insurers. Bram Lecker makes the argument for how simple it would be for the Federal Government to implement a National STD Insurance Plan for all Canadians, replacing the current circus playing out through private employment run plans.
Anatomy of Short Term Disability Claims. A majority of short term disability claims get denied. The insurance company will likely determine your condition to be ineligible or not serious enough. It does not matter whether this is completely contrary to a diagnosis by trained medical professionals. What is going on here?
The Canadian Federal Employment Insurance (EI) program is a social safety net that covers eligible employees temporarily for some income loss when this happens. If you receive notice and/or severance as part of your layoff, then you must understand the implications of severance pay and Employment Insurance.
Sears Canada’s denial of severance pay to 2,900 laid-off workers while under creditor protection highlights a “black hole” in Canadian employment law, says Toronto employment lawyer Bram Lecker.
