Did you know?
• The definition of disability is primarily job-specific,
and assessment of eligibility is not only dependent
on the existence of an illness or injury, but also on
how that illness or injury affects an employee’s
ability to work.
• Human and civil rights laws in Canada and the US
mandate that employers accommodate employees
who are experiencing a disability, including mental
health conditions.
• LTD benefit plans are typically designed to replace
70-85% of an employee’s after-tax pre-disability
income rather than 100%—this recognizes that
employees are no longer paying their work-related
expenses while off and that there should be some
incentive to return to work.
TRUSTED LEGAL ADVISORS FOR PROFESSIONALS.
For information on our Professional Services Practice, contact:
Patrick Cleary
Ryan Howe
Michael Nadeau
(not pictured)
604.484.1741
604.484.1740
604.484.1773
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Suite 2700 - 700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, B.C. Canada V7Y 1B8
604.484.1700 | www.ahbl.ca
34 CPABC in Focus • Sept/Oct 2015
Again, there is no cookie-cutter solution,
but a process of collaboration is always advisable. Additionally, because some aspects
of the job and/or the environment will likely
change following the employee’s return to
work, it’s important for the employer to be
flexible and ensure that everyone is on the
same page.
Having the right benefits plan
In addition to the actual disability benefit
that supports employees with income replacement when needed, employee assistance programs (EAPs) and extended health benefits
are important parts of the benefits package
with regard to absences. Most EAPs offer
supportive counselling and other resources
to assist employees during times of need.
Paramedical benefits, such as psychological
treatment and physiotherapy, are also helpful for employees who need more intensive
help in dealing with an illness or injury, and
may help prevent or reduce absences.
However, there are times when an absence
from work is necessary, including, for example, to provide recovery time after surgery or
to enable someone to undergo treatment.
Therefore, income replacement plans, such
as short- a