TORONTO – The WSIB was founded as a no-fault, worker-centric system to protect the injured workers of Ontario–ensuring they would have both the financial safety net, and the services needed to recover from injuries and resume gainful employment; however, the WSIB has lost sight of their foundational purpose, and rather become an employer-focused business.
On one hand, Jean Simon, who works in the WSIB’s Employer Services Center, states “we ensure that the employers of Ontario are taken care of, spending as much time as needed to fulfill their requests and answer their questions. Their issues are always resolved, and our area is staffed sufficiently to meet their needs.”
On the other hand, Dawn Pledge, who answers calls from injured workers states, “the hardest part of the job is arriving at work and seeing a long list of calls waiting to be answered. My heart sinks knowing the day will be jam packed. By the time I get to a call, the worker is understandably frustrated. Calls are often routed to another area, like healthcare payment, where workers wait an additional 30-40 minutes. There are so many calls, and not enough staff, there isn’t even time for bathroom breaks, of which management keeps track.”
An internationally-recognized, peer-reviewed study confirmed that WSIB employees, primarily in areas servicing injured workers, suffer from elevated levels of anxiety and depression; this is directly caused by excessive workload. The Occupational Hygienist who carried out the survey informed WSIB this problem is so severe that some staff are at risk losing their life by suicide, but the WSIB has not acted with urgency.
The excessive workload, stress and burnout it causes in staff, indirectly impact the level of services WSIB provides the injured workers of Ontario. Workload is one of the main issues that led to this strike, and the strike too is causing undue disruption to the WSIB’s services.
In keeping with their campaign of miscommunication, the WSIB has frequently stated that they are managing the workload left by the strike, and that “if workers have been injured on the job, they will still receive the care that they have been getting;” however, according to anonymous sources, there are an estimated 20,000 claims currently left unregistered.
There are further reports of injured workers–lying in hospital beds for over a week–who would normally be called or visited by WSIB staff but have heard nothing from the WSIB.
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For more information, please contact:
Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications Representative
416-707-1401
mb/cope491
