“Provincial watchdog sees major spike in injured worker complaints” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Jul. 23, 2016)
With 600 complaints in the period Apr-Mar 2015/2016 to the Ombudsman about Ontario’s workers’ compensation board, the numbers are up almost 20% over last year – “at a time when doctors, labour groups and injured-worker advocates are calling for a formal investigation into the WSIB, alleging “systematic disregard” for medical advice given by accident victims’ own doctors… That, critics say, often leads to workers being unfairly kicked off benefits…”
Injured workers are just being cut off benefits …They’re being denied treatment that they need, they’re being denied medication that they need.” (Aidan MacDonald, Injured Workers’ Consultants Community Legal Clinic)
Complaints to the Ombudsman about the independent workers’ compensation Appeals Tribunal (WSIAT) have also risen sharply over the past year – 23% (from 99 to 128).
Related articles in the Toronto Star investigative series:
- Jul. 21, 2016. “Injured Workers Routinely Cut Off WSIB by Improper Rulings”
- Jul. 10, 2016. “WSIB Stands by Use of ‘Paper Doctors’ After Call for Ombudsman Probe”
- Jul. 3, 2016. “Fewer Workers Getting Help for ‘Serious Injuries,’ Statistics Show”
- Jun. 13, 2016. “Doctor Hired by WSIB in U.S. Legal Battle Over Slashed Medical Benefits”
- Jun. 10, 2016. “WSIB Critics Say Spending Cuts are ‘Devastating’ Injured Workers” (Responses – WSIB ; Toronto Workers’ Health & Safety Legal Clinic )
- Apr. 6, 2016. “Fair Appeals for Injured Workers Under Threat, Experts Warn”