High stress and work-life balance key causes: PSAC
Disability claims have reached a 37-year high in the federal public service, according to the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC).
Job stress and work-life balance problems are the main cause behind the high numbers, according to James Infantino, a PSAC pensions and disability insurance officer.
PSAC’s analysis of claims data supports the findings of a federal study posted on the Treasury Board website in the summer that found high rates of depression in the public service.
The number of disability claims filed reached a 37-year high of 2,908 in 2006, or one claim for every 13.54 members of the federal disability plan, said Infantino.
Infantino’s analysis also found women are filing more claims then men and the proportion is increasing. In 1991, women made up 45 per cent of federal public employees and they accounted for 51.4 per cent of disability claims. Now women make up 54 per cent of employees but they file two-thirds of disability claims.
Cases related to depression and anxiety have risen significantly from 23.7 per cent of claims in 1991 to 45.1 per cent currently, said Infantino.
Disability claims can only be filed when employees have exhausted all sick leave or waited out a 13-week elimination period, whichever is longer.
“We’re not talking about your blue Mondays,” said Infantino. “What we’ve got is people who’ve been off at least 13 weeks who say ‘I cannot come to work because I am depressed and/or anxious and I have certified medical evidence of that.’ That’s quite disconcerting when you think of the number of claims filed for that particular reason.”
Job stress and work-life balance problems are the main cause behind the high numbers, according to James Infantino, a PSAC pensions and disability insurance officer.
PSAC’s analysis of claims data supports the findings of a federal study posted on the Treasury Board website in the summer that found high rates of depression in the public service.
The number of disability claims filed reached a 37-year high of 2,908 in 2006, or one claim for every 13.54 members of the federal disability plan, said Infantino.
Infantino’s analysis also found women are filing more claims then men and the proportion is increasing. In 1991, women made up 45 per cent of federal public employees and they accounted for 51.4 per cent of disability claims. Now women make up 54 per cent of employees but they file two-thirds of disability claims.
Cases related to depression and anxiety have risen significantly from 23.7 per cent of claims in 1991 to 45.1 per cent currently, said Infantino.
Disability claims can only be filed when employees have exhausted all sick leave or waited out a 13-week elimination period, whichever is longer.
“We’re not talking about your blue Mondays,” said Infantino. “What we’ve got is people who’ve been off at least 13 weeks who say ‘I cannot come to work because I am depressed and/or anxious and I have certified medical evidence of that.’ That’s quite disconcerting when you think of the number of claims filed for that particular reason.”
