Winners Named in 2002 National Awards of Excellence in Disability Management
VANCOUVER, BC - The cost of employees becoming disabled and unable to work is estimated to be costing Canadian businesses about $11 billion per year.* On top of that, the rise of "invisible disabilities" such as stress, depression and addiction are taking an added social and economic toll on business in Canada and other developed nations. In many industries, such as health care, already facing a shortage of skilled workers, there are vast social and financial benefits to be gained by reintegrating people with disabilities back into the workforce.
Strategies to tackle these crippling costs and associated social issues were addressed recently in Vancouver at the First International Forum on Disability Management, held May 27-29, jointly supported by major corporations and unions. The message according to Canada's Minister of Labour Claudette Bradshaw is clear. More action needs to be taken by leaders in business and labour, as well as by government and the insurance and medical communities to develop effective strategies to manage disabilities using the workplace as the focal point.
In reference to the newly released Code of practice on managing disability in the workplace drafted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), Minister Bradshaw echoed much of the forum's theme. "Our challenge now is to convert words into action. We all know that the best framework won't do a thing unless employers and unions... adopt the Code's principles and take action."
In Canada, several major corporations and labour organizations have taken leadership roles and implemented effective disability management programs that have saved millions of dollars in benefit costs and helped restore quality of life and productivity for their employees.
Individuals and organizations showing exemplary leadership in the field were honoured May 28 at the 2002 National Awards of Excellence in Disability Management held as the highlight event of the international forum.
* Source: Based on workers' compensation short-term and long-term disability premiums.
Wolfgang Zimmermann, forum organizer and executive director of the National Institute of Disability Management and Research (NIDMAR) was seriously injured himself in an industrial accident at the age of 20 and has since been one of the founding members of the DM movement in Canada. He commends this year's winners of the National Awards of Excellence in Disability Management and in particular how their work contributes to helping address the current low 1% hiring rate of people with disabilities in Canada.
"I applaud the groundbreaking work of these businesses, unions and key individuals who are paving the way to an inclusive Canada, where people with disabilities claim their place as productive, valued members in our workplaces and our society."
SMALL ORGANIZATION / WORKPLACE
Chemainus Sawmill Unit, Weyerhaeuser - Chemainus, BC
LARGE PRIVATE ORGANIZATION / WORKPLACE
J. D. Irving, Limited - Saint John, NB
CROWN CORPORATION / GOVERNMENT AGENCY
Health Care Corporation of St. John's - St. John's, NF
Ontario Power Generation - Toronto, ON
PUBLIC SERVICE INITIATIVE
Workers' Compensation Board of Northwest Territories & Nunavut
RETURN TO WORK COORDINATOR / DISABILITY MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL
Marg Creen, DM Consultant, Manulife - Toronto, ON
Trudy Langthorne, Canfor, Prince George Pulp and Paper - Prince George, BC
David Moorhouse, Council of Trade Unions, BC Rail - Vancouver, BC
Dave Pearce, IWA-Canada, Canfor - Fort St. John, BC
OUTSTANDING PUBLIC LEADERSHIP
University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) - Prince George, BC
