Issues with my employer about forced medical accomadtions / insurance company

Disability Insurance
1

Hi.

I have been watching and ejoying your show on Youtube since August.

I have 2 questions related to the situation I am going through with my employer.

  1. If you have a degenerative condition (vision related) can an employer force you to see a doctor for medical accomadition without providing any evidence to me that a medical accomadtion is necessary? I have been fore had several forced medical accomadtions over a roughly 10 year period andwhenever I ask why this is being done I only get vague statements about my disability being a health and safety concern even though they do not have spefic incidents or write ups or any supporting evidence. It feels wrong that an employer can force medical accomadtions if they are unable to provide fact based reasoing other than that I am disabled.

  2. This past July I went on vacation for a week. When I returned to work my manager called me in to the office for a meeting with HR. While I was away on vacation my manager and a rep from the HR department reached out to Manulife Insurance and initiated a long term disability claim on my behalf without telling me first or obtaining my consent. I was told that it was normal and that I was being pre approved for long term disability even though I was not off work and that it was for my protection in case I was laid off and would be in a position where I would have no income.

A few days later the HR person emailed me back and told me that “good news” I didn’t have to apply for long term disabilty after all. I suspect that Manulife had informed her that contacting them to initiate a long term disabilty claim for an individual who was not off work and without their consent was illegal? Don’t know what to do. Thanks

2

What is a:

I

Why do you think that is illegal?

You seem to be assuming malice where maybe they were looking out for you.

3

I don’t think my HR department meant malice.

You can do something bad with good intentions.

It’s not ok to initiate long term disability claims for people without their knowledge or consent.

I don’t know if I was ready to go on LTD and felt forced into it otherwiser I would not have future income and it’s been devastating to me.

4

For additional context. I am in Alberta and my employer is a national retial chain.

the manager at store level who forced me into multiple medical evaluations without ever providing supportive evidence, I have

Additionally, during the previous medical accomodation in 2021 I had my hours cut a few weeks after the accomdation. The doctor did not recommend reducing my hours or anything of that nature as part of the medical accomation. I just started receiving 5 less hours a week and was never expalined why my hours were being reduced. Bwsides earing less income over the last few years, the lack of hours also means reduced LTD payments now. (I am full time)

5

I would talk to the insurer and get an explanation why the LTD was not based on your hours before any medical accommodation.

If they don’t respond or don’t fix it then I would get a free consult with Resolute lawyers.

I don’t think you should be getting reduced LTD payments.