Mental Health

A Toxic Workplace—Not a “Careful” Workplace

April 1, 2017

By Terri Aversa, Health and Safety Officer, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Sometimes the best way to define a toxic workplace is to define what’s not. A “careful” workplace is not a toxic workplace. A “careful” workplace is what psychologist and…

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Not alone in his despair

March 1, 2017

“Mental health issues prominent among injured workers: Brantford group gives injured workers a voice” / Colleen Toms (Brant News, Feb. 28, 2017) A three-storey fall left highrise window cleaner Wes Mahoney severely injured and in constant pain. It also left him battling…

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Lack of action & clarity on mental stress policy

February 14, 2017

“Critics tired of “foot-dragging” on injured worker discrimination : Ontario’s ombudsman will not investigate workers’ compensation for ‘unconstitutional’ stress policy” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, February 13, 2017) Injured workers suffering from psychological conditions brought on by long-term workplace issues are…

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“Turning a blind eye is not a lawful option”

November 25, 2016

“WSIB mulls reform to rules that deny compensation to some mentally ill workers: Critics say Workplace Safety and Insurance Board has power to enact change immediately” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, November 25, 2016) Following complaints filed recently with the Ombudsman…

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Calling for recognition of chronic occupational mental stress injuries

November 15, 2016

“Ombudsman asked to probe WSIB treatment of mentally ill: Complaint from group of legal experts says workers with chronic mental stress injuries face systematic discrimination.” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Nov. 14, 2016) London injured worker Wendy Knelsen, diagnosed with work-related…

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Taking stock: OFL / ONIWG Joint Conference on workers compensation

October 23, 2016

The upcoming 2016 Joint Conference (Nov. 3 & 4) of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups (ONIWG) and Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) presents two days of presentations and discussion on key concerns of injured workers and current developments…

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Bancroft Spring session – mental health and the injured worker

April 22, 2016

Each year approximately 31,000 Canadian workers are recognized as sustaining a permanent impairment as a result of a workplace injury – 15,000 in Ontario alone, according to WSIB data. The upcoming session in the Bancroft Institute’s Policy & Research Discussion series…

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PTSD compensation for first responders

April 6, 2016

“Ontario recognizes PTSD as work-related for first responders” / Rob Ferguson (Toronto Star, Apr. 5, 2016) With all-party support, Bill 163, Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), 2016 was passed into law Tuesday. The amendment to the Workplace Safety and…

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An important step, but more is needed to address mental health needs

March 22, 2016

In its “Submission” to the Standing Committee on Social Policy considering Bill 163, Injured Workers’ Consultants supports the amendment to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act adding a presumption that diagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in first responders is work-related. It also…

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Fighting with the WSIB “has been just as agonizing as his injuries”

March 13, 2016

“Delay, denial and debt mark WSIB struggle for man who lost his memory in a workplace struggle.” / Sara Mojtehedzadeh (Toronto Star, Mar. 12, 2016) 58-year old Burlington man, Darryl Bold, is still battling for compensation six years after suffering multiple injuries…

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