Steve Payne
WSIB responds to Alec Caldwell’s post alleging a claims denial binge: “No change in the WSIB’s allowance rate”
Canadian ContractorJohn Slinger, the WSIB's chief operating officer, said that Canadian Contractor's article by Alec Caldwell contained "inaccuracies."
Editor’s note: Yesterday (Nov. 10), the WSIB’s chief operating officer, John Slinger, sent us his official response to Alec Caldwell’s post arguing that the WSIB has been improving its financial position on the backs of denied claimants. Here it is…
Note: We have made a note in Alec’s article of the WSIB’s unfunded liability being $7.5-billion, according to Mr. Slinger, not the $9-billion Alec stated.
I am writing to you today to correct the record in terms of the inaccuracies contained in the article which appeared in the online version of your publication on November 10 by Alec Caldwell regarding the WSIB. The following are the key points I am writing to address:
Claims Eligibility
There has been no change in the WSIB’s allowance rate. Today, workers are getting their claims approved faster than ever before. In fact, 92% of all eligibility decisions are made within 2 weeks, compared to 65% in 2008.
Health Care Costs
Regardless of the type of injury or its severity, the WSIB’s role is to give the support needed, to make sure that, wherever possible, workers are able to recover and return to work and that there are no financial costs for the worker as a result of the injury.
When an injury occurs or an illness is diagnosed, the WSIB acts quickly to ensure workers receive timely, specialized medical care. The WSIB has established a network of Specialty Clinics and Programs of Care throughout Ontario that integrate recovery treatment and return to work planning to ensure optimal outcomes.
Today over 40 per cent of claims are now treated through at least one of these programs, up from just 18 per cent in 2008. Workers are returning to work more safely and sooner. For example, compared with 2010, the number of workers today with back injuries that develop permanent impairments has decreased by over 80 per cent.
Financial Sustainability
Returning the WSIB to financial sustainability is central to the well-being of injured workers, by ensuring the system is there for them in the years to come. It was only in 2009 that the Auditor General warned that the state of the WSIB’s finances was so unbalanced that it threatened to collapse the entire system. This would have been a catastrophic loss for Ontario workers. That threat is now a receding memory with the system’s Unfunded Liability now down to $7.5 billion (not, as your article states, “somewhere around $9 billion”) from an unsustainable high in 2012 of $14.2 billion.
All of this is framed by the strongest recovery and return-to-work outcomes of any province in Canada: Throughout 2014, 92 per cent of injured workers with lost-time injuries returned to work with no wage loss within 12 months of their injury. I hope the foregoing serves to correct the record as portrayed by Canadian Contractor.
Sincerely,
John Slinger
Chief Operating Officer
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
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2010 was struck in the head by a backhoe 5yrs latter here I am on odsp and ccp disability diagnosed ptsd anxiety and depression? as of 2yrs ago was good to go back to work wsib say’s only prob need clearance from doctor to go back to my job not going to get that are my? not been paid by wsib for last two years guess under the bus I go I had to spend three weeks in hospital do to being suicidal and homicidal? Not proud of that but still here thanks to the good doctors at Kingston general hospital could have been another death do to wsib bullying we won’t stand for that in schools but OK for wsib totally brutal to try to deal with these hartless people (all I did was wen’t to work and look at me now) lost girlfriend apartment cars and now in collections and living with my mother? not nice at 53yrs old not much to look forward too is there
Girl friend hurt herself at work washing cars and tore her shoulder . Was forced back to work with a injury and is now suing WSIB . Funny how legitamate claim was denied after she had to stop working because her shoulder was still not healed . She will win and they will have to back pay her for the last two years … Oh and guess what still having shoulder problems . WSIB is a f#cking scam
John Slinger is an overpaid liar, and given the opportunity I would say it to his face; however, this will do for now.
http://writehere.com/post/150206-2/attention-david-marshall-at-the-wsib
Laura Feeney
John your full of crap! The only reason you have the strongest recovery and return to work is because your denying claims and people have to go back because of the financial burden wsib creates. Your specialty clinics are more of a lion hunt looking for the weak to pray on.
Peculiar,
Mr. Slinger’s response shows that the WSIB is certainly following you magazine and it’s many articles dealing with their alleged incompetence. With a wide range of Media Outlets now covering the plight of Injured workers, seemingly endless coverage of those who have been denied benefits or have taken years to fight for what they deserve. Mr. Slinger has made no comment.
However what he has done is provide a picture that seems to back up what the media is portraying. The reason behind the decrease in the Unfunded Liability. How did it drastically decrease in the last two years. What changes occurred within the WSIB. They have boasted for the last couple of years a zero increase in employer premiums so that didn’t generate a surplus. They have hired more back to work specialist’s, Doctor’s and Nurses, a larger number of Auditor’s etc… again would be a reverse effect. Is this gentleman implying that injuries have drastically decreased, people are no longer requiring their services.
Does he think we are all fools, funny he has never mentioned the lawsuits filed against them, the amount of which continue to grow, he has never responded to the fact that a lot of these situations and decisions when getting to WSIAT are overturned. He has no comment about the multitude of WSIAT decisions similar in nature that are time and time again resolved and at every turn the WSIB is told by WSIAT their decision process is flawed. The following day WSIB continues business as usual and perpetrate the same offence on their next victim.
So I as Mr. Slinger how he would like to respond to these issues, simply put we know your following these articles and response’s.
Sean Keane
Bang on!
I recognise as an employer paying your premiums as you’re required to so, you unlikely do not know who to believe. I will summarize what WSIB has been doing for at least a decade but has accelerated their attacks on injured workers in the last 5 years. WSIB collects premiums from employers to protect themselves from lawsuits & to provide for workers who are injured on the job. Like a person buying a life insurance policy, $100,000.00 for your dependents to provide for their financial futures. Imagine that when that day came and your family tries to collect with your death certificate in hand. The response of the insurance company was to tell your dependents & beneficiaries that they will only pay them $20.000.00 or simply refuse payment altogether take it or leave it…file an appeal. If you appeal though we may refuse past benefits paid to you. How would you feel? This is how injured workers are feeling. How is this possible? WSIB is an arm’s length agency of the Ministry of Labour. WSIB; Don Marshall, Elizabeth Witmer & John Slinger tells the Labour Minister what he wants to hear but the reality is completely different for injured workers. The truth is in the details. WSIB has implemented discriminatory policies that completely overrides WSIA legislation. Such as “deeming”; deeming an injured worker well enough to return to work based on WSIB’s new policy & not based on medical evidence of the worker. Creating clinics to rubber stamp this false medical information that contradicts a worker’s specialist reports. Outright denial of all benefits to older & psychologically injured workers based on new policy not WSIA. Deemed 80% to 100% reductions to injured workers benefits based on “phantom” wages when a injured remains medically unable to work. Why should employers care if it keeps their premium rates down? Employers are paying twice for these worker injuries, through premiums and through their taxes as these now poverty stricken injured workers & their families fall onto various government programs since WSIB is not paying legitimate claims, arbitrarily reducing benefits & health care supported by lots of medical evidence. My own situation is supported by numerous medical reports from 5 doctors & specialists stating I remain unable to work for medical reasons but WSIB has cut my benefits by 80% through deeming. Taxpayers are paying for these workers & their families since WSIB has refused to pay but this hasn’t stopped WSIB from collecting premiums so where are these premiums going? Check out the Sunshine list, there’re hundreds listed from WSIB. WSIB is suggesting this is necessary to cover an unfunded liability or put another way to put enough in their savings account to pay for bills that do not come do for payment for another 10-30 years. These injured workers & their families are your neighbours but they may also be your consumers. Therefore forcing them into bankruptcy doesn’t help local businesses.
$9 billion, $7.5 billion, tomatoe, tomato
It still looks like huge incompetence, not to mention that this incompetence is being paid large sums of money, eventually Karma will get these people, it does come for all, believe me.
Ìñjùŕeď worker should get all benefits from the W.S.I B. The workers in 1915 give up there ŕight to sue the W.B.C. àñd to treat fair , àñd get benefits às long as the injured last.
Ontario Workers; do you think you’re covered if you are permanently disabled in your workplace? WSIB does not track what happens to these injured workers whose benefits are arbitrarily cut. They track how much has been paid out in benefits and how long these benefits have been paid. Therefore when WSIB talks of benefit reductions they are talking about benefits cuts but not a reduction in the need for these benefits. But WSIB likes to suggest that they are helping injured workers better so benefits paid out have declined. These statements are misleading since injured workers are simply having benefits cuts before they are medically able to return to work. Real recovery times for specific injuries can’t be reduced through benefit denial since the body continues to need the same amount of time to heal regardless of whether injured worker is receiving WSIB benefits or not. Most of WSIB statistics are from 20 years ago before WSIB introduce drastic policy changes that completely undermine Worker Compensation Legislation, WSIA & intentionally forces injured workers into poverty. I recognize most readers will not know who to believe on the WSIB debate, injured workers, physicians or WSIB executives. I will summarize what WSIB has been doing for at least a decade but has accelerated their attacks on injured workers in the last 5 years. WSIB collects employers’ premium that protects employers from lawsuits & to provide for workers who are injured on the job. Like a person buying a life insurance policy, $100,000.00 for your dependents to provide for their financial futures. Imagine that when that day came and your family tries to collect with your death certificate in hand. The response of the insurance company was to tell your dependents & beneficiaries that they will only pay them $20.000.00 or simply refuse payment to them altogether take it or leave it…file an appeal. If you appeal though we, the insurance company may reverse decisions for past benefits paid to you. How would you feel? This is how injured workers are feeling. How is this possible? WSIB is an arm’s length agency of the Ministry of Labour. WSIB; Don Marshall, Elizabeth Witmer & John Slinger tells the Labour Minister what he wants to hear but the reality is completely different for injured workers. The truth is in the details. WSIB has implemented discriminatory policies that completely override WSIA legislation. Such as “deeming”; deeming an injured worker well enough to return to work based on WSIB’s new policy & not based on medical evidence of the worker. Created clinics to rubber stamp this false medical information that contradicts a worker’s specialist reports; and outright denial of all benefits to older & psychologically injured workers based on this new policy not WSIA. Claims accepted that are “deemed 80% to 100% reductions” to injured workers benefits based on “phantom” wages when injured workers remain medically unable to work. Why should employers or Ontarians care if it keeps WSIB premium rates down? Employers are paying twice for these worker injuries, through premiums and through their taxes as these now poverty stricken injured workers & their families fall onto various government programs since WSIB is not paying legitimate claims, arbitrarily reducing benefits & health care supported by lots of medical evidence. My own situation is supported by numerous medical reports from 5 doctors & specialists stating I remain unable to work for medical reasons but WSIB has cut my benefits by 80% through deeming. Taxpayers are paying for these workers & their families since WSIB has refused to pay but this hasn’t stopped WSIB from collecting premiums so where are these premiums going? Check out the Sunshine list, there’re hundreds listed from WSIB. WSIB is suggesting this is necessary to cover an unfunded liability or put another way to put enough in their savings account to pay for bills that do not come do for payment for another 10-30 years. These injured workers & their families are your neighbours but they may also be your consumers. Therefore forcing them into bankruptcy doesn’t help local businesses or the economy.
WSIB 2015 Economic Statement-
November 20, 2015
In the 1970s, the Union of Injured Workers rallied injured workers with its four demands and its description of workers’ compensation as “cheap insurance for boss”. After 40 years, the Board in 2015 is proud to announce “even cheaper insurance for boss”. They call it a “2015 Economic Statement” and you can find it attached to a recent News Release. It is a continuation of a 20 year pattern that began with the election of Mike Harris in 1995; it is only fitting that his Minister of Labour, Elizabeth Witmer would be at the helm of the Board for this announcement.
A BRIEF HISTORY
Injured worker efforts beginning in the early 1970s led to real improvements for injured workers over the next 10-15 years, and increasing assessments for employers. When Mike Harris’ government took office in the 1990s, he promised to reduce benefits and assessments and he did so. Drastically. His government reduced assessments by 30% and benefits by 15% in a variety of ways. This disparity between the assessment and benefit cuts eventually led to a significant deterioration of the WSIB’s financial position; it was masked for almost a decade by spectacular investment returns, but this windfall ended in 2007. The WSIB then had to choose between raising assessments, cutting benefits or allowing the Board’s financial position to remain poor. The Board decided to raise assessments by a total of 9% between 2008 and 2014 and to cut benefits in a number of less visible ways:
• more claims denied (almost double the previous rate)
• a removal of any concern about sustainability in the return to work process
• much greater use of surveillance to deter claims
• much more stringent decision-making with respect to psychological conditions
• extreme reluctance to accept that middle-aged and even older permanently impaired workers are unemployable
• revision of policies and practices with respect to the aggravation of pre-existing conditions
• reduction of NEL awards by administrative practice
Most of the benefit cuts were achieved without any specific change in policy by administrative fiat from senior management.
THE 2015 ECONOMIC STATEMENT
The modest assessment rate increase and the significant benefit cuts have resulted in a better financial position for the Board. Here’s what the Statement says:
Over the past five years, transformational changes in operations and improvements in workplace safety have resulted in a remarkable turnaround in the WSIB’s financial position. Despite some concerns about a slowing economy, there is a possibility for the WSIB to reach the legislated target of 100 per cent funding five to six years ahead of schedule. This gives rise to the opportunity to reduce employer premiums and provide much needed assistance to Ontario’s employers beginning as early as 2017. Once 100 per cent funding is reached and a prudent margin of safety is maintained, employer premiums can be reduced to a level that is well below the Canadian average and more than $2 billion can be returned annually to Ontario’s economy.
And the Statement details what the WSIB plans to do with its foreseen bounty- a reduction in premiums of 13% by 2022 and further reductions until premiums will be just over half what they are today in 2032, levels that Mike Harris could only have dreamed of.
THE UNDERLYING IDEOLOGY
What does it all add up to? Lower benefits for injured workers, lower premiums for employers and “$2 billion injected into the Ontario economy”. Wait. Isn’t that trickle-down theory? If you give a whole truckload of money to employers in the form of lower assessments, they’re going to invest all of it in the Ontario economy, right? Maybe they will and maybe instead they’ll return more money to their shareholders. Book those all-inclusive luxury cruises now.
Income inequality has many causes. Sometimes it is dressed up. This is one of those cases.
Big business are getting cheaper insurance but most businesses are paying twice for injured workers; premiums & through their taxes as injured workers are forced unto taxpayer funded government program to survive in poverty.
Gary Newhouse, Barrister and Solicitor & Michael S. Green, Barrister and Solicitor
Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
November 5, 2015
Whistleblower Report Exposes WSIB Interference in Medical Care:
Doctors Allege Injured Workers are Re-Victimized by the Compensation System
(TORONTO, ON) ─ The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) and the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups (ONIWG) today released a damning report exposing interference on the part of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in the medical care of injured workers.
“This report confirms what injured worker advocates have been hearing for years – that the WSIB system is more interested in clearing its case load than supporting workers who have been seriously injured on the job,” said OFL Secretary-Treasurer Nancy Hutchison. “These doctors are blowing the whistle on the WSIB’s punitive practice of ‘deeming’ injured workers eligible to resume work when their treating physicians and medical professionals have clearly stated the opposite. The report we are releasing today tells the story of these doctors and their patients. We hope it will force a formal investigation into the WSIB’s treatment of medical advice and lead to systemic change.”
The report, called “Prescription Over-Ruled: Report on How Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Systematically Ignores the Advice of Medical Professionals,” was produced with the assistance of six registered psychologists who originally raised the alarm about the WSIB’s management of medical care and medical evidence as it relates to WSIB benefits recipients. However, since then, many other medical professionals and injured workers have come forward to share similar stories about the WSIB’s failure to heed medical advice regarding readiness to return to work, insufficient treatment, blaming ‘pre-existing’ conditions for ongoing illness, and using independent medical reviews which proclaim patients to be healed, despite the evidence of treating practitioners.
“Over the past 5 years, we have seen an alarming decline in WSIB services from difficult to impossible,” said Sudbury-based Rehabilitation Psychologist, Dr. Keith Klassen. “When I talk to other psychologists and health professionals they describe the same pattern. From what we see it seems that the WSIB has become a service whose prime objective is simply not to serve.”
“The red tape is tangling up legitimate claims and preventing injured workers from getting the coverage they need,” said Sudbury-based Rehabilitation Psychologist Dr. Giorgio Ilacqua. “Behind every claim is a real person, with a family that has been turned upside down by a workplace injury, they deserve immediate and consistent care, not bureaucracy and red tape.”
“The net effect is a WSIB system that re-victimizes the very injured workers it is mandated to compensate and protect,” said Hutchison.
To download the full report, visit: http://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015.11.05-Report-WSIB.pdf
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit http://www.OFL.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour
WSIB BY THE NUMBERS
2014 WSIB Highlights Schedule 1 and 2
The truth is in the details: WSIB no longer tracks actual RTW outcomes. WSIB tracks the amount of benefits paid out for accepted workers’ claim. Many accepted claimants have their benefits reduced through WSIB’s new discriminatory policy that determines a worker well enough to RTW whether these injured workers are medically well enough or not. Whether an injured worker has returned to work or not phantom wages are deducted from their WSIB benefits throwing injured workers into poverty. The injured workers included in WSIB’s 87% as noted in the small print; “87% of injured workers were OFF FULL LOE BENEFITS within a month of an RTW staff member’s involvement”. WSIB makes it appear that 87% of injured workers have successfully RTW but many of these injured workers have had their benefits cut by 60%-100% while they remain medically unfit to RTW.
The human body requires the same amount of time for injuries to heal regardless of whether or not an injured worker is receiving Full LOE. Today’s workforce is older on average so in fact these injured workers would require more time for their injuries to heal. Therefore when WSIB talks about a reduction in benefits being paid out to injured workers, they are talking about cutting injured workers benefits whether or not an injured worker is working or not through deeming recovery times based on WSIB policy and the deduction “deemed phantom wages” from the injured workers’ WSIB benefits. Registered Claims are also down by more than 100,000 from their highs and worker fatalities have increased or have been almost constant. The truth is in the details; WSIB isn’t honoring WSIA and not paying all of the benefits injured worker’s entitlement that they need. Serious permanent workplace injury => poverty & dependence taxpayer funded programs.
Employers covered by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act are categorized as either Schedule 1 or Schedule 2 employers. This report presents statistics for Schedules 1 and 2 separately.
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 employers are those for which the WSIB is liable to pay benefit compensation for workers’ claims. Schedule 1 employers are required by legislation to pay premiums to the WSIB and are protected by a system of collective liability.
Schedule 2
Schedule 2 employers are employers that self-insure the provisions of benefits under the WSIA. Schedule 2 employers are liable to pay all benefit compensation and administration costs for the workers’ claims.
By The Numbers
Data in By the Numbers: 2014 WSIB Statistical Report may not match previously published results. This is due to factors such as data maturity, updated definitions and methodologies, and rounding. Data in By the Numbers is matured three months, with the exception of benefit payments, which represents cash paid during the year to or on behalf of injured workers and are not matured three months following year end. Percentages may not add up due to rounding.
© 2015 WSIB, CSPAAT
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Quicker decisions = quicker denials so an injured worker can spend the next decade in WSIB’s appeals process.
Even seriously injured workers whose claims are accepted; claims are arbitrarily reduced to below poverty levels through deeming so injured workers and their families are not receiving the full 85% of pre injury earnings. Are these workers ready to return to work? NO Reduction of benefits paid out = benefits cut while worker is still unable to RTW. WSIB only tracks how much is paid out in benefits; WSIB does not track successful RTW outcomes. Benefits are cut & WSIB closes the injured worker’s file whether the injured worker has RTW or on OW.
WSIB sent me to their Altum Clinic. I had a torn meniscus resulting in an unstable knee. I should have had surgery to trim the meniscus but WSIB’s doctor did not recommend it. Within 11 months, my cartiriledge was stripped down to the bone by this damaged meniscus in my knee. I now have advance stage arthritis in the knee largely due to this doctor’s negligence. I found out after the fact, unstable knees should have arthroscopy.
This doctor tried to convince me I had pre-existing arthritis. Another orthapod assure me when I initially had the injury, I had no existing arthritis in the knee. WSIB’s doctor then tried to mis-diagnose me with a much minor patella tendonitis to cover/delay the diagnosis of chondrosis/arthritis.
He refused to order anything which would cost WSIB except grueling physio.
Things which would have helped me: orthotics, knee brace, massage therapy, chiro were denied me because as he put it, “WSIB” would not approve.
ANYONE having a work related injury, do not go to WSIB’s clinic.
You will have a poorer quality of care than if you go to OHIP clinic.
WSIB Clinic doctors have crossed the line from fiscal budget restraint to malpractice, and outright fraud: ready to misdiagnose workers to prevent/delay claims
Altum health was good for me and wsib agreed with all restrictions from them and my other doctors which all agreed but then wsib said there was no need for any restrictions cause my work was so will to with which they never did. Plus they wanted me driving an 18 wheeler on heavy narcotics and anaesthetic drugs again cause my work will work with me. Smart people at wsib.
So willing to work with me that should say
I must be the only injured worker denied benefits according to John Slinger no legit claim has been denied. I have suffered psychologically from a head injury 25 years ago WSIB claims is mild and I can return to pre-injury or suitable work but employer will not allow me to return to work claiming I have mental condition not related to the injury. So if WSIB cares for the injured workers how come I have not received help and rehabilitation for a head injury 25 years ago and by the way my pre-injury is diving bus for the City Of Sault Ste. Marie
Oh I forgot since I have a head injury I suffer from cognitive problems and the WSIB consultants Toronto Rehabilitation institute claims a very mild injury with no impairment. I have been a victim of WSIB established network of specialty clinics and the optimal out come was UI then a reduced Ontario Municipal Pension that I contributed too and CPPD for the sequalae of my head injury.
Settled within two weeks I have been waiting almost 5 years for just appeals resolution cause wsib decides each time there is new medical though nothing has changed and yes I said 5 years
John Slinger was lying then, and what ever talking head puppet that took his place sitting on the pile of stinking dung, that is the WISB service model, will be lying some more, and more… they are a self deluded social pick pocket with one end in mind, their own benefit, regardless of the criminality and corruption they endorse and indulge in! AUDIT THE WSIB and their past/present senior staff!
wsib treat people terribly it is a disgrace..
i had a concussion back in feb 2017..it took 8 weeks before i was paid anything the case managers and return to work specialists as they call themselves care nothing for the injured person..
i was rushed back to work and lied to many times..
i am back to work on modified duties since july 5th and still to this date have received nothing since my return from wsib ???? on a return to work plan from the doctor the chose for me to see..
i have been to canada 27years and have never been out of work but they treat you like your dirt..only time they contact you is to find out are you better and while trying to bully you back to work,once back no one cares..
they are a disgrace to humanity..it seems to me they get well paid for not doing the job..as for the ceo and management i am sure they all get there pay check every week..
they are a disgusting non caring typical goverment grabbing sad people.
i still have issues because of injury but wsib dont give a damm
the company where i work luckily for me have been understanding and have treated me great..
97′- till 2017 … yeah id say they dropped the ball with me n others … i guess they try to forget we cant all use tech / or they count on it
HVAC worker originally injured November 28th, 2013 falling in customers driveway causing golfers elbow, over the course of the month several conflicts with employer as to work load as I was to be on light duties… Over the course of the month developed pain in right shoulder and back, received Dr’s January 6, 2014 note stating immobility and not to work…WSIB advised under threat of financial penalty to report to work.. Injured January 7,2014 in another fall, 50% tear to right supraspinatus, right forearm badly bruised, WSIB Dr. did not look at neck or right shoulder-blade as I stated pain from injury stating he was directed to only look at shoulder…Oct 2017 finally got MRI done of back confirming cervical and thoracic damage. Appeal of WSIB was to take place Nov 2017 cancelled as additional damage to be added to claim. Waiting for WSIB to deny for WSIAT tribunal…I have not been able to work or carry on a normal life since Jan 2014.
Married with 2 Daughters 11 & 16, Informed after MRI on back my injuries are permanent, have seen Physio, Osteopath, Massage Therapist and Chiropractor on a limited basis mainly under my wifes insurance…This WSIB experience has truly been a nightmare leaving my self and family twisting in the wind…Their actions have been despicable.
I would like to see the suicide rate for WSIB workers. Freedom of information should allow this information to be public. Some do get their claim recognized, however, the fight, surveillance, demolition of the workers character ultimately destroys them and suicide follows. I am asking WSIB to post the suicide rate, how much money they save with dead workers. An Abomination is what WSIB is.
WSIB bounces the injured worker back to the employer, making the employer take the financial hit. Not to mention the accident employer has no place for injured workers. The injured worker is then subjected to mental hell as the employer tries to rid itself the burden and eventually the worker leaves the accident employer. No other companies will hire a WSIB injured worker (or if they do they discover the claim and promptly make sure to remove them). This financial game is on the back of the injured worker. WSIB has a lot to answer for. Having a WSIB claim is the same as a death sentence.
I had a fall at work , I broke my neck , sternum , eight ribs in multiple places , clavical and two collapsed lungs one perforated . I spent eight days in the Ottawa civic hospitals trauma ward . After I had been home about two and a half weeks wsib called wondering why I hadn’t returned to work yet . The Doctor in the trauma ward had given me paper work to not return until January , this accident happened in November . After much badgering by wsib and the employer I returned to work after four weeks. I had no use of my right arm so I had to manoeuvre city traffic with just my left arm . After a couple of days back at work my clavicle displaced itself , now I have a bulge in my skin . My ribs separated at the broken areas and are now causing me a lot of pain . After a few months my employer fired me because after five years I was no longer a “good fit” . I’m now sixty one years of age this happened when I was fifty eight . Wsib now deems me fit for work . I receive a small amount of money from wsib and I had to access my cpp at age 60 to live . Yesterday I got a call from wsib letting me know that because the minimum wage increased my pitiful benefit will be cut by 10% this year and more to come . At 65 wsib will end . I really think this system has to change it’s too late for me but no one should have to go through this.
I find these statements by John Slinger regarding RTW in my case I had a head injury with cognitive and emotional problems because I was forced to return to work too soon two after injury without any treatment ever offered and it has been 27 years since then. Harassment and bullying caused a recurrence of excepted psychological injury related to head and neck injuries MTBI. I have been denied benefits and rehab because WSIB has deemed me able to return to the stressful employment that has caused me a recurrence of psychological impairment as a result I took an early disability retirement and CPP benefits for the sequelae of my brain injury 27 years ago has the system worked for me NO.
I am currently back injury on the job. Instantly did all the paperwork my coworker witnessed the event team leader was made aware.
Broken piece of equipment caused the work related injury. Three or four weeks later I had stopped in one day to communicate with each other. Walked by the piece of equipment that cause the problem it was still broke. Takes a little while for WSIB to get on board and get their act together. Probably a month.
I do therapy therapy therapy more therapy. Go to their doctors they look at the scans I had “nothing there. You’ll be just fine. Muscle strain or Paul. It will heal up just fine.
Over the years of service I’ve had for five incidences of injury to The same area. WSIB says those are all muscle strains they don’t reply they don’t contribute anything to this one they were then this is now is totally different. They played a part in fact yada yada on and on and on and o The same area. WSIB says those were all muscle strains they don’t reply they don’t contribute anything to this one they were then this is now is totally different. They have no bearing relationship Nor have they anything to do related to this injury now. So I end up having this pain constant all the time pain I had never had before and it is not going away.
They granted me three or four extensions to my therapy. No help pain still there doesn’t go away. So they just tell me you’re all better and go back to work. So I do.
They never goes away within six months it’s just severe. I don’t get any help from anybody. No active HR at my place of work, no manager at the same time. So I get no help.
It was almost a year before I got anything from WSA be for the reoccurrence, what a pain in the blank to get the reoccurrence going. Let alone work never filed for for five months, good job. Let’s see here I get my doctor to give me an appointment with the specialist. It was like pulling teeth it was 6 , 7 appointments before she finally broke down and got me the appointment with specialist. I figure by collecting the doctors notes or reports on a regular basis WSIB finds out I have an appointment with specialist. Well don’t they start playing ball with me then. They got me an appointment in Cambridge as quick as they could. My appointment with specialist from my doctor ended up being for five days before the appointment with their doctor there Dr. My specialist gives his diagnosis. I go to their specialist they just want to know my guys diagnosis. What did your guy say what was his diagnosis. Course I didn’t remember the word or the words are the terms. So their report WSID’s report ends up stating we go along with whatever the diagnosis was from the other day. Don’t they send me two more times to their specials. Specialist —-I look one of them up and the specialist is Anaesthesiologist. So The insurance company sends me to two more places. I have a diagnosis from my guy a back surgeon a neurosurgeon. All of the insurance companies people have different diagnosis other than one. That one in actuality never gave a diagnosis.
Case worker at Kohl’s says we have three you have one you can try and get more if you want. Just like it was a game of cards and now she has the deck stacked.
It’s an insurance company. insurance companies don’t make money by paying out all the time for every nickel and dime.
So yeah they don’t wanna pay out positive they’re being told not do you pay out.
I was told “we don’t pay for pain “
So anytime missed work I don’t get paid for. But I’m still in massive amounts of pain ,they’ve got no sympathy.
I’ve got record of one of their doctors perjuring himself.
My boss was harassing me, spying on me, peeking around corners, always asking what are you doing where you been what are you doing,
Several people have saw this witnessed it several people have saw this witnessed it. Now everybody’s as nice as pie. Like night and day. Somethings in the works. Had a talk with two managers they wanted to talk to me. It was about something really silly. That had been a couple other peculiar events that transpired. I had asked them is this the start of my end. There’s going to be a big production to my end.
That’s not even the half of it!!!!!