Workplace romance leads to costly WCB claim
Dear Blue Collar, It’s come to our attention that a member of our executive team was romantically involved with one of his direct reports. The extra-marital relationship carried on in secret until he evidently broke it off, after which his spurned lover filed a claim with WCB. The claim cites a “toxic workplace” as the […]
Employer pays hand over fist for workplace scuffle
A scuffle between a man and a lady coworker in an Edmonton office building didn’t end well for their employer. According to witnesses, words were exchanged and hostilities escalated until onlookers were compelled to physically separate the two combatants. After the dust settled, the male employee vented his frustration on a nearby office door, striking […]
Don’t shy away from appealing a WCB decision
A vast majority of Alberta employers shy away from disputing WCB entitlement decisions. A recent decision (No. 020-0262) rendered by the Appeals Commission underscores the importance of drawing your battle lines. The worker, a truck driver, filed a disability claim on the basis that he was bullied, harassed and intimidated by his supervisor. The supervisor […]
Blue Collar & Shift OHS combine forces
Blue Collar Consulting, in tandem with Shift OHS Inc., offers Canada’s only integrated OHS, WCB, and disability management solution, encompassing: -24/7 drug & alcohol testing across Canada-COR audits-HSE policy/program design-Managerial training, i.e; identifying impairment, managing psych injuries, addiction, resilience coaching-Health screening (hiring stage & regular intervals)-Strategic WCB & group-benefit management-On-demand advisory & WCB appeals advocacy-Legal […]
Duty of care owed to employees with addiction
Dear Blue Collar, To what extent are employers required to accommodate addiction? One of our guys had his driver’s license revoked and he tells me I’m somehow responsible for his transportation. Would you clarify? Answer: Where a worker has a demonstrable history of alcoholism, employers are obligated to accommodate that disability to a point of […]
DNA Testing: The future of disability management
Major motion picture ‘Gattaca’, a mid 90’s cult classic, depicts a dystopian future in which genetically-enhanced elites rule over lesser “organic” humans. Some 25 years after its release, the scientific advancements underpinning Gattaca’s theme have become a reality. One such example is pharmacogenetics, the study of how genes affect a person’s response to drugs. This […]
Disability program the best insurance against WCB costs
Edmonton police responded to nearly 4,000 residential break-ins in Edmonton last year. This means a home or garage break-in occurs every two hours, Det. Dan van den Berg, with the EPS, told CBC Radio’s Edmonton AM. “Anecdotally, I would suggest that addictions may be (driving) the rise, especially meth use,” he said. “Meth is most […]
WCB fraud on the upswing
Question from a Blue Collar follower: Dear Blue Collar, We’re being lied to by one of our employees. Our ‘disabled’ worker was caught playing golf, his limp miraculously cured, laughing and joking and blissfully unaware that he was spotted by a colleague. Our options? Answer: Blue Collar itself receives upward of 10 calls/wk from employers […]
Drug & alcohol abuse surging during COVID
New data from across Canada confirms that drug and alcohol abuse is spiking during the pandemic. “We tell people coping with addiction not to isolate”, says Jennifer Austin, who coaches people with substance abuse disorder. “Then the pandemic comes along and we’re literally telling everyone to isolate, like, lock yourself indoors.” “The longer people had […]
Coping with workplace psych injuries
Psychological claims stemming from toxic workplaces, excessive workload, and interpersonal conflicts (i.e. bullying/ harassment/racism) were up nearly 3000 percent before the pandemic struck. COVID-19 has only amplified the wave. Moreover, Courts and Commissions have increased the sum of damages awarded to people mentally injured at work by some 900% in recent years. Unfortunately, many employers […]