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What does the future of disability case management hold? If we take a Jetsons-like look ahead, technology and data-driven approaches will almost inevitably become more widespread. The rise of new technologies has created an opportunity for the field to shift away from reactive case management methods. Instead, proactive, tailored solutions that leverage cutting-edge technologies can … Continued

What does the future of disability case management hold? If we take a Jetsons-like look ahead, technology and data-driven approaches will almost inevitably become more widespread. The rise of new technologies has created an opportunity for the field to shift away from reactive case management methods. Instead, proactive, tailored solutions that leverage cutting-edge technologies can … Continued

In the past two years, workplace accommodations have changed significantly, especially for retail employers. In our November webinar, ReedGroup’s Mike Brown, Account Executive and Consultant, and Nadine Morganelli, Accommodation and Ergonomic Consultant, led the conversation on improving ergonomic accommodation in the retail industry, including a strong focus on the importance of joint efforts from both … Continued

“Joining Alight expands the range of offerings we can make to our shared and future clients, giving us the ability to make unparalleled innovations in the areas of health and wellbeing.” – Kevin Curry, formerly Chief Revenue Officer at ReedGroup. Read the press release here.

In 2022, mental health in the workplace is among the hottest topics for employers around the world. The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has identified that every week in Canada, an estimated 500,000 employees are off work due to mental health issues[1]. MHCC further reported that mental health issues account for more than $6 … Continued

As 2022 starts to draw to a close, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has released some important updates for employers to note for the year ahead. 2023/2024 WSIB Employer Updates On October 20, 2022, the WSIB announced that the average premium rate for Ontario businesses in 2023 will remain steady at $1.30 … Continued

Sprains and fractures, mental health, visual or hearing impairments, and pregnancy. What do these have in common? These are a few of the life events that can require workplace accommodations. When an employee’s medical condition is impacting their ability to complete their job role to expectations, employers need to consider offering suitable workplace accommodations to … Continued

Mike Brown, Account Executive & Consultant, and Nadine Morganelli, Team Lead, Accommodation and Ergonomics Consultant, from ReedGroup joined Erin Mills, Director, Human Capital, and Workplace Health, from the Conference Board of Canada to share their expertise on workplace accommodations. Our speakers dove into the importance of accommodation in the workplace, types of accommodation employers should … Continued

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the workplace overnight. As each wave emerged, workers understood that remote work was here to stay. Working remotely without a proper ergonomic workspace, including a desk, adjustable office chair, and peripheral computer equipment, results in awkward static postures and can lead to an increase in musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. Per the 2021 … Continued

Most Canadian employers don’t track all absence types, so they don’t fully realize the associated costs, risks, or opportunities for improvement, according to the Conference Board of Canada[1]. Furthermore, managing absences with manual tracking or a patchwork of digital tools often leads to missed deadlines, confusing standards, dissatisfied employees—and unhappy executives. You can help your … Continued

Holistic approaches to absence management help businesses reduce costs, modernize HR policies, and enhance efficiency to increase productivity, employee management, investments, and returns. Revamping your organization’s absence management strategy can play a significant role in this process and help to realize cost savings. Absence management services incorporate technology and tools to track and monitor absence … Continued

Staying on top of employee leaves of absence—called absence management–is a huge undertaking. Provincial and federal workplace absence policies make it complex for your Human Resources Department to ensure that employees receive support and benefits in times of need. Integrated absence management services support employers by processing occupational and non-occupational claims; tracking employee absences; and … Continued

Managing mental health in the workplace can be challenging for all employers. According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 70% of employees have concerns with the psychological health and safety of their workplace. COVID-19 has only increased the focus on how to handle mental health challenges among working-aged people and has emphasized the importance … Continued

Managing an employee’s return to work after or during an injury or illness can be very challenging for employers. To help simplify the process and optimize return to work success, ReedGroup has identified some easy-to-use tips and tricks that all employers can utilize during a return to work. Download the PDF here. If you’re looking … Continued

A proper ergonomic workspace is essential to both your health and wellness. Whether you are working from home or back in the office, take a moment to make sure your workspace is set up to help you succeed. ReedGroup has identified some quick tips to ensure your workspace is optimized for your continued comfort and … Continued

Do you know what leaves of absence are available in each Canadian province and territory? Provincial and territorial leaves are complex enough without trying to remember which leave is available where. ReedGroup has created a quick reference guide to help you easily identify which leaves are available in each province and territory. Click here to … Continued

Surplus Rebate On the heels of yet another wave of the pandemic, businesses continue to feel the financial impact of COVID-19. However, a welcome announcement has come from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), advising that $1.5 billion in rebates are being returned to eligible safe Schedule 1 businesses in Ontario. Recent legislative changes … Continued

Employers are feeling the impacts of a diminished labour force and economic fallout from the Omicron COVID-19 variant, and an unprecedented wave of new claims has been hitting the Workers’ Compensation Boards (WCBs). Qualifying a COVID-19 claim as work-related previously required a positive PCR test, which are now in limited supply. Employers have responded by … Continued

Working from home has many benefits, but it can be challenging to disconnect from work while literally living at the office. Check out these tips to help you disconnect from work at the end of the day or week. How to Disconnect While Working From Home   Information provided on this blog is intended for … Continued

MindBeacon’s therapy is evidence-based and focuses on identifying and addressing functional impairment and return-to-work (RTW) barriers, important components that impact the length of claims and prevent relapse. ReedGroup integrates this program to prevent employees from self-diagnosing and accessing clinically inappropriate treatment, factors that may add to the length of the claim, worsen symptoms and functional … Continued

Mental health in the workplace matters to employers and employees alike. And there are great FREE mental health tools and resources available across Canada. Download this poster, complete with links to the listed resources.   Mental Health Resources Guide for Canadian Employers

ReedGroup hosted some of Canada’s largest retailers from October 26-28, 2021 for a virtual symposium on absence management. The event featured industry professionals from LCBO and Best Buy, as well as specialists from ReedGroup and MindBeacon. Below are the downloadable presentation decks and sessions recordings if you were not able to attend or would like … Continued

When we last checked in with MindBeacon’s therapists, Sandra was learning to introduce effective communication skills at work so that she felt equipped for productive conversations with her boss once she was ready to return. She began to learn to advocate for herself and discuss ways she could be supported to manage the increased target … Continued

The last quarter – the perfect time of the year to announce what appears to be good news for 2022 to the employers of Ontario. As the wind starts to howl and the autumn of 2021 is presents abundant changes, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) announcement appears to be a “treat”, not a … Continued

Effective return-to-work programs are essential to identifying and addressing RTW barriers and decreasing functional impairment. A MindBeacon therapist recently shared with us a success story featuring an employee whose mental health concerns and functional impairment caused her to take a leave of absence. This is Sandra’s story, a bank employee whose work-related anxiety and depression … Continued

Looking for a daily reminder to focus on your mental wellbeing at work? Click below to download ReedGroup’s quick and simple Mental Health Tips. Hang it up in your office or set it as your screensaver to remind you to take care of your mental health on a daily basis. Mental Health Tips Poster (8.5 … Continued

You can put employees on a comprehensive care path during an absence, helping them to achieve their return-to-work goals. In partnership with MindBeacon, ReedGroup Canada identifies and addresses functional impairments, return-to-work barriers, and primary mental health concerns that contribute to an employee absence. We ensure efficient access to personalized treatment that focuses on reintegration into … Continued

Mental health claims continue to be an increasing concern for employers and their staff, so access to high-quality behavioural health care is even more vital. Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) is effective for many common conditions, including depression and anxiety, according to the Center for Addition and Mental Health[1]. Now, iCBT can help people on … Continued

Old injuries, ongoing illnesses, chronic diseases, and medical conditions, non-occupational or occupational have been treated by workers’ compensation boards and insurers to be pre-existing conditions. Many people try to hide pre-existing medical conditions in the workplace, but in reality, most of us are impacted by such conditions while in the workforce[1]. Though common, claims of … Continued

Quebec’s Workers’ Compensation (WC) program, managed by the CNESST, operates in a unique way compared to other provinces and territories. Many of its distinct differences are particularly perplexing, making claims management in Quebec challenging. WC case management in Quebec is commonly considered more of a battle than a cooperative process. Its most challenging characteristic by … Continued

Workers’ compensation (WC) in Canada is no-fault. Since employees receive benefits instead of a determination of fault and negligence, employers pay insurance coverage premiums. Provincial WC boards determine and administer benefits for claims within their jurisdiction. Each province has specific WC laws and policies, but the criteria for accepting claims are mostly similar. In all … Continued

For many people, the past year’s work environment has been unprecedented. Employers asked their employees to pivot from the long-established office routines, and instead, work from home. Work-from-home arrangements necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, are likely here for the long haul. Working from home will become permanent for some employees, at least for part of … Continued

Our society is now more concerned than ever with how employees are treated and how they are coping within the workplace. Mental health claims have become more common, with more claims being submitted and approved by workers’ compensation boards (WCBs) across Canada. The increase in mental health awareness has contributed to the volume of claims … Continued

Each day, we work with human resources representatives and health and safety managers to provide the support and guidance needed for their absence management programs. Our day-to-day contacts want to know that their absence management provider is a partner who operates as an extension of their company, working with them to improve and simplify the … Continued

At-work accommodations have become an increasingly important issue as more employers focus on employee health, safety, and productivity in the workplace to comply with accessibility legislation requirements. Employers are expected to proceed with a diligent evaluation when an employee has a medical condition or disability that is impacting them during their role, to determine if … Continued

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for everyone, especially for employers navigating this unchartered territory. Employers of all sizes have had to turn their operations, and their program for workers’ compensation, upside down in order to get through these unprecedented times. Where are we now? It’s well over … Continued

For the past year, some people have been working from home, and isolating from public environments in support of the current lock down. Unfortunately, essential frontline workers have not had the option to remain isolated. This part of the workforce has been exposing themselves to high-risk environments in order to ensure that necessary service offerings … Continued

The retail industry is a dynamic industry that is seldom static.  Retailers are focused on their bottom line, and many overlook the importance of establishing and maintaining an effective absence management strategy. The retail workforce is extremely diverse, with demographics that reflect the varying ages of employees in this sector, from students, to working parents, … Continued

When the COVID-19 pandemic swept across North America in early 2020, most of us thought that we were making a lot of changes to our daily lives for a temporary situation. Some were quite pleased to finally have the opportunity to work remotely, while others had to learn how to balance the needs of young … Continued

Over the past few weeks, several provincial governments have passed legislation to temporarily provide employees impacted by COVID-19 with varying degrees of paid, job-protected leave. The primary intent of this legislation is to provide support for employees who have no sick leave plan and are required to take time off work as a result of … Continued

While the benefits of integrated absence management have been discussed for many years, most organizations have not taken the time to fully understand the advantages of adopting this model. Learn how an integrated model can help you to capitalize on the absence strategy you have in place. 1.  Efficient and consistent tracking   An integrated … Continued

In December 2020, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 47: Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act, outlining changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act. As of April 1, 2021, additional legislative changes have been put in place as well. Legislation in place as of January 1, 2021 Review workers’ compensation benefits if a worker is … Continued

Telehealth has become more and more popular, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need for these services even further. Twenty percent of Canadians wait more than seven days to see their treating physician. Immediate access through telehealth solutions can significantly impact the wait time and provide on-demand support to individuals who are ill or … Continued

In May of 2019, an external review of the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) was initiated by the Ontario government. The purpose of this external review was to provide the government with an analysis of the operations of the WSIB and make comparisons to other jurisdictions and insurance agencies to identify best practices. … Continued

As COVID-19 continues to influence our economy and our everyday lives, employers have had to make changes and adapt their workplace environment. With new regulations and guidelines, employers now must factor these changes into the management of their workforce and in the implementation of best practices to accommodate their employees’ wellbeing. What Are the Challenges? … Continued

Abstract INTRODUCTION. Obesity is a growing public health problem and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality risk for affected individuals. Bariatric surgery is recommended for severely obese patients when conservative treatments fail. OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to compare the surgical trends over time, complication rates, disability durations, and medical costs between … Continued

As the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, many companies are extending remote work for their employees who were able to perform their jobs from a home office. Expanding remote work has been a highly effective strategy for employers seeking to keep their employees safe while continuing to operate their business. Working from home can present challenges for … Continued

The dust is settling on the impact of the changes to the funding scheme of the WSIB, which came into effect on January 1, 2020. Over ten years ago, the need to revamp the financial system was ignited as the significant unfunded liability reached the “tipping point” of collapse. The debt obligations reached zero before … Continued