Stigma

Injured workers don’t fake pain or poverty

March 23, 2020

In a recent article in social justice newspaper Tough Times, injured worker activist Catherine Fenech addresses the myth that continues to stigmatize: the misplaced idea that injured workers are somehow faking injuries to take advantage of “generous” workers’ compensation benefits. She…

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IWC supports Toronto’s first International Black Mental Health Day

March 17, 2020

On March 2, 2020 Toronto held its first Black International Mental Health Day (BMHD) with a series of events illuminating the need for systemic change to address the detrimental impact of everyday racism on the mental health of the region’s black population.…

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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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WSIB’s new surveillance guideline still problematic

March 22, 2016

(Guest post by Maryth Yachnin and Ivana Petricone, IAVGO Community Legal Clinic) Through public concern, the work of the Human Rights Legal Challenges Working Group and the intervention of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the WSIB was convinced to revoke its previous…

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Adding insult to injury

July 18, 2015

“Northumberland legal centre wants to hear WSIB complaints” / Valerie MacDonald (Northumberland Today, Jul. 16, 2015) “Clients say the WSIB staff are rude to them, treat them as if they are only pretending they cannot work, (and) harass them about seeking jobs…

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Monitoring the media?

June 27, 2015

Is the media providing a fair and accurate portrayal of injured workers and workers’ compensation? And how do their representations shape public opinion? A recent study and an offensive cartoon give cause for concern. In their article “If It Bleeds, It …

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Responding to Marshall’s claims

February 9, 2015

The Jan. 31 2015 Toronto Star article “Meet the man injured Ontario workers ‘love to hate'” drew many comments on the Star’s website, and published letters to the editor: “WSIB destroys workers’ lives” (Hamilton Spectator, Feb. 9). Jeannie Howe, Southwestern Vice-President of…

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Upcoming Fall 2014 Bancroft discussion: healthy interactions?

September 23, 2014

In the third of the Bancroft Institute’s Policy and Research Discussion series, to be held Friday October 31, keynote speakers Beth Kilgour and Agnieszka Kosny will discuss findings from their qualitative literature review of interaction between injured workers and their insurers in…

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WSIB surveillance on the rise

June 16, 2014

“Workplace Safety Insurance Board steps up spying on clients, documents show” / Patty Winsa (Toronto Star, Jun. 16, 2014) Internal documents show the WSIB considers psychological conditions or language barriers to be “red flags” for fraud and may order surveillance – and,…

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