The greatest asset to any workplace is the people who work there. So, it should be a top priority of every business and employer to ensure that their workers stay safe on the job. One of the best [...]
As a business owner, you know the importance of keeping your people safe. Not only is it a moral responsibility, but it is also a legal one. In addition, having a good health and safety program [...]
A certain amount of stress is normal, and even helpful in certain situations. In small doses, stress can help ensure we are prepared for that big presentation or arrive at a meeting on time. But [...]
When a workplace experiences unplanned absenteeism, it can negatively impact employee morale and hurt your company’s productivity and its bottom line. This type of absenteeism can be caused by a [...]
Technology has made it increasingly possible for employers to hire employees from anywhere they are able to work remotely. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has been [...]
Canadian winters can be rough, even when you aren’t working outside. Some jobs are outdoors and don’t stop just because the cold weather comes. Staying safe when temperatures drop is crucial for [...]
In 2022, employers will be faced with many challenges. While there are hopeful signs that the pandemic may finally be loosening its grip on the world, COVID-19 is still a reality. Additionally, [...]
After the holidays, employees often come back to work refreshed and re-energized. It is also when many companies set their budgets and targets for the year – so what better time than to set some [...]
When your business involves employees driving frequently – whether they are making deliveries or attending offsite meetings – you want to ensure that your employees are safely getting to their [...]
Canadian winters can feel like they go on forever: it gets dark early, it’s cold outside, and it can be challenging to get out and do anything. Being stuck inside without enough sunshine can make [...]
November 21st marked the 26th annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and the beginning of a new Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030. With this in mind, we wanted to put [...]
Taking care of the health of your employees isn’t just about their physical health. Their mental health is just as important, and perhaps even more so during these past two years considering [...]
Every winter, there’s a significant rise in both cold and flu cases. Thanks to masking and social distancing during the pandemic, cold and flu cases seem to have all but disappeared. [...]
When employees are absent due to short or long-term disabilities, the cost to employers and organizations can be high, in terms of lost productivity and the bottom line. One way to reduce this [...]
As careful as everyone tries to be, accidents can happen at work—especially if workplace safety takes a back seat in priority. Instead of reacting to injuries in the workplace, the best thing [...]
Both medical and recreational cannabis has been legal in Canada for some time now. As new cannabis stores seem to be popping up on a near-daily basis, some employers are asking what this might [...]
Having a solid disability management program can dramatically improve company productivity, reduce absenteeism, improve employee morale and ultimately have a positive impact on your bottom line. [...]
Working outside in the summer can be a great way to enjoy the warm weather, spend more time in nature, and even help work on a tan. However, as the weather gets hotter, it can become much more [...]
The office is certainly not a new working environment, but it has become far more common to have a desk job and to work on a computer all day. Employees who work at a computer for extended [...]
It is a common joke in Canada that there are only two seasons: winter and construction season. Following a long Canadian winter, many roads are in need of repair, so you will commonly find road [...]
Most employers understand that they have a duty to accommodate employees with disabilities. But when the issue centres around impairment or addiction, it can be challenging for the employer to [...]
If you have ever had an employee who has needed to take time off due to an injury, you know how difficult it can be for the entire organization. Not only is there a loss of productivity as far as [...]
After months of stay-at-home orders, businesses are finally starting to reopen – just as we prepare to face the dog days of summer. With construction sites and outdoor work resuming, it is [...]
A traumatic event may occur over a few hours or a few minutes, but the long-term effects that it can have on your employees and your business can be devastating. When serious mental health issues [...]
As an employer, you should have received within the past month or so a letter from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) providing you with a detailed breakdown of WSIB’s new rate [...]
Occupational health and safety is an ever-changing field, with policies, regulations and best practices evaluated regularly to ensure that workers’ compensation boards across Canada are [...]
It should come as no surprise that happy employees are more motivated and more productive than unhappy employees. For a business, happy employees ultimately contribute to greater efficiency and [...]
Many workplaces have strictly ingrained hierarchies, and indeed this can make sense in certain areas where there is a need for a reporting structure, quality control, and so forth. But one area [...]
You are probably aware that first aid training can save someone’s life or mitigate the effects of an accident or medical emergency, but did you know that offering your employees first aid [...]
Health and safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. The more engaged your employees are in the process, the more invested they are in the outcome – resulting in a safer [...]
Most businesses and organizations do their best to prevent work-related accidents. But even the most safety-conscious of workplaces is not completely immune to on the job incidents. When these [...]
When an accident occurs in the workplace, your first thought usually isn’t how you are going to handle the paperwork. Hopefully, your first thought is making sure the accident victim receives [...]
While many of us love the summer heat and the activities it brings, such as days on the beach or enjoying time with friends on your favourite patio, the high temperatures of summer can pose a [...]
There is a misconception among many office workers, that they are simply too busy to take breaks at work. In many cases, even the lunch break becomes a sad scene of an employee slouched at his [...]
Employee absences can mean huge costs for businesses in terms of lost productivity and company morale – not to mention the costs of having to train and pay temporary workers when an absence is [...]
From improving manufacturing processes to keeping the books, advances in technology have made our businesses more competitive and also more productive. So why should disability management be any [...]
Office ergonomics is something that most employers don’t think much about. However, if they realized how much of a difference that ergonomics could make to their bottom line, it would become a [...]
The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) has finalized and released the changes to the premium rate setting system used in Ontario. Currently, the WSIB uses either NEER, CAD-7 or MAP [...]
If you want to know how much your company is paying in Workers’ Compensation premiums, obtaining that number is as simple as picking up the phone and speaking to your bookkeeper or HR department. [...]
Over the last several years, medical cannabis has become a popular alternative to many potentially more dangerous prescription drugs such as opioids, and now that recreational cannabis has been [...]
It is no secret that physical fitness is one of the keys to a healthy life. But what does this have to do with business or your bottom line? Believe it or not, companies that encourage physical [...]
At TeksMed, we have always been proud to be a pioneer in the Canadian disability management industry, but this year we are especially proud because 2019 marks 25 years in business. That’s right, [...]
Effective September 1, 2018, the Worker’s Compensation Board of Alberta implemented new legislation – the result of reform within WCB Alberta driven by the new Provincial NDP government – [...]
Excessive employee absenteeism can have a profound effect on the work environment of your company, your productivity and your bottom line. And absenteeism can occur due to a number of reasons [...]
As Canadians, we are extremely fortunate to have government funded healthcare, but it is far from perfect. The system is overloaded and wait times to see specialists or get diagnostic testing can [...]
Most of the time, when we hear about the importance of work-life balance, it seems to be from the employee’s perspective. Employees want work-life balance for a number of reasons, ranging from [...]
Regardless of the reason for time away from work, the bottom line is that – well – it hurts your bottom line. The best way to prevent employee absences from becoming a problem in your workplace [...]
A “lost time” claim is created when a worker suffers a work-related injury/disease which results in them being off work past the day of the accident, incurring a loss of [...]
Many companies perform annual performance reviews of their employees, but a far fewer number, it seems, perform annual reviews of their policy and procedure. And this is unfortunate – especially [...]
Summer is a peak time for many businesses, however the hot weather can often spell trouble and cause workplace safety issues. Heat stress can be a real concern for employers whose employees work [...]
Employees may be limited in their job capability due to a temporary or permanent disability. While it may be true that over the course of one’s career, an individual may become limited in their [...]
As the use of medical marijuana becomes a more popular alternative to other prescription pain relievers, employers are asking the question: how will this impact the workplace? Canadians who [...]
Making sure that your business runs at optimal productivity is the key to growth and profit. But how can you be productive if your employees are not fully engaged? And how can they be fully [...]
Mental health issues have a huge impact on our society. So much so in fact, that the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) designated a full week in May as Mental Health Awareness week over [...]
When evaluating occupational injuries arising from WorkSafeBC claims, it is crucial to consider the mechanism of injury and whether a claim satisfies the appropriate law and policy. Often a [...]
As an employer, playing an active role in health and safety risk prevention is critical for a number of reasons. By reducing the potential for on the job injuries, you are increasing the [...]
On April 28th, employers and employees from over 100 countries around the world will observe the National Day of Mourning. On this day, we commemorate those who have been injured or who have lost [...]
More than ever, employers are taking measures to ensure that the well-being of their employees is being looked after, and yet in many workplaces, mental health is still the elephant in the room. [...]
In any business, a certain amount of absenteeism is unavoidable – people do get sick and there are times when employees will be required to take time off; however, when absenteeism becomes [...]
Almost all employers have been faced with at least one WSIB claim that leaves them questioning if there is something more that they could do. Their concerns often surround the level of [...]
Is your organization prepared for the changes to worker’s compensation as it relates to mental health? In the past, employees in Canada would only receive benefits for mental health in extreme [...]
The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board has proposed changes to the premium rate setting model used in Ontario. Currently, the WSIB uses either NEER, CAD-7 or MAP experience rating programs in [...]
When an employee returns to work after a disability, it can be a stressful time for both employer and employee as they navigate the challenges of their new reality. Employers may be anxious to [...]
Over the past few years, the importance of mental health has gained some much-deserved attention both in the media and by our policy makers. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has [...]
Introduction & Background The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) conducted consultations into Work-Related Mental Stress policies. The WSIB has undertaken to expand the Work-Related [...]
When an employee becomes sick or injured, it can deal quite a blow to your company. Not only does their absence affect the morale and overall atmosphere of the work environment, but it can harm [...]
Illness and injury can happen to anyone at any time. In fact, the chances of experiencing a disability for three or more months before the age of 65 is one in three and if you have an employee [...]
When an employee is away on disability leave, it can cause both professional and personal turmoil for the employer. On one side, the employer must manage the employee’s duties while they are on [...]
The summer of 2017 will forever be etched in the memories of many British Columbia residents – this year has officially been declared as the worst wildfire season on record. At the peak of the [...]
As the sole funders of WorkSafeBC, it’s safe to say that employers are alarmed when seeing major fluctuations in premiums. Where is the consistency? On May 25, 2017, the Board of Directors [...]
For many years, the WSIB struggled with an enormous unfunded liability which soared to a massive $14.2 B in 2011. Since that time, the UFL has been cut by more than half to its current level of [...]
Introduction The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is conducting consultations into Work-Related Mental Stress policies that would come into effect on January 1, 2018. The point of [...]
Over the past few years, the importance of mental health has gained some much deserved attention both in the media and by our policy makers. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has [...]
It took Ontario employers many years and counting to understand and get used to WSIB’s soon-to-be old, New Experimental Experience Rating (NEER) system. This experience rating program, along with [...]
Workers’ compensation claims are expensive in more ways than one. Not only can they result in an increase in employer’s premiums and consequently lost efficiency due to absenteeism, but they can [...]
TeksMed has always been on the leading edge of disability management and now there is a new executive team at the helm to take the company to the next level – providing employers and individuals [...]
With a new year, comes opportunity for new goals and objectives. For most businesses, reducing costs and increasing revenue is usually on the radar. Regardless of your industry, there is a [...]
All in all, 2016 was not exactly the best of years. You are no doubt aware of many of the great talents that the world lost this year including David Bowie, Mohammed Ali, Gene Wilder and most [...]
Preventing and managing physical work-related injuries, in many ways, is much simpler than injuries related to mental health. Yet, in particular industries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [...]
The WSIB’s unfunded liability (UFL) has long been a ticking time bomb in the Ontario economy, threatening employers with potentially unaffordable premium rate increases. Fortunately, much hard [...]
Fall is the time when many businesses throughout Canada prepare for their annual budgets. Employers in particular, often choose the fall because this is the time when they will receive their [...]
