As the majority of the workforce transitions back to in-office work, employees’ mental health in the workplace can no longer be ignored. Bram Lecker (“Mr. Lecker”), principal of Lecker & Associates, recently addressed this issue in an article, Disability claims involving employees suffering from mental illnesses are rising: lawyer, in the Canadian Lawyer. Specifically, he […]
Disability claims involving employees suffering from mental illnesses are rising: lawyer This article is part of a series addressing popular topics and questions that clients and the public may have about the legal profession. How employers respond to mental health challenges in their workforce has become an even more salient question since the COVID pandemic […]
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) gives temporary income support to employed and self-employed people who cannot work due to a COVID-19 lockdown. The CWLB is only available when a COVID-19 lockdown order is designated for your region. If you are eligible for the CWLB, you can receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) for each […]
Many Canadian employees feel the security and comfort of having disability income protection included as part of their employment benefits package. Unfortunately, new hires are so enamored with the initial contract, usually described in a glossy benefits booklet that they do not bother to read the fine print. In so many cases, if tragedy strikes […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on Canadians’ mental and physical health. An Ipsos poll conducted earlier this year found that 56 percent of those surveyed reported increased feelings of social isolation, depression, and anxiety due to the pandemic and related lockdowns. We are beginning to learn that those who have contracted the virus […]
A Primer on IDEL Legislation. Wrongful Dismissal or Layoffs In response to the health and economic effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ontario government introduced Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”) legislation on June 1, 2020. It allowed employees, who were affected by COVID-19 illness, to pursue a protected leave of absence while tending to their […]
By Jordan Reiner, Partner – Lecker & Associates When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccination, some employers are mandating that their employees be vaccinated before returning to the office. If you as an employee find yourself in a similar situation, you may be asking yourself, “can my employer force me to be vaccinated,” “what are […]
Former Toronto police officer Ralph Thistle says he’s finally able to install a well and running water at the small cabin near Mt. Forest, Ont., he shares with his service dog Rupert. Thistle’s decade-long battle with Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) came to an end last week when he opened his mailbox and […]
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to rage and businesses are once again forced to shutter, more and more employees are finding themselves on the receiving end of a temporary layoff or a termination. For those employees who are placed on a temporary layoff, their job security and prospects of a return are left up in […]
Workplaces continue to ignore the impact of the pandemic on employee mental health. Some choose to openly discriminate against employees with anxiety and depression, exacerbating the nature of the illness. Consequently, stress leave is on the rise in Ontario.