Lisa Chamzuk Quoted in Canadian HR Reporter Article About a Decision that Could Affect Long-Term Disability Benefits
Lawson Lundell lawyer Lisa Chamzuk, was quoted in an article by Canadian HR Reporter discussing a recent arbitration decision that requires Okanagan College to extend long-term disability benefits beyond age 65. The ruling marks a shift in how age-based benefits are treated under human rights laws in the province and may prompt more employers to re-evaluate their policies to ensure compliance and address the evolving needs of an aging workforce.
"What this arbitrator is suggesting is that it may be appropriate to look more closely at the plan in assessing whether or not it's bona fide ... certainly the Okanagan College case, to me, would embolden others to challenge terms that might have otherwise been seen as being bona fide, because of how the test has been applied previously." explains Lisa.
Lawson Lundell's Pensions & Employee Benefits group can support employers by providing a legal framework to reassess and adjust their benefit plans, ensuring they remain compliant with evolving human rights standards while balancing the financial challenges of offering age-inclusive coverage. Reach out to our experienced lawyers today.
Read the full Canadian HR Reporter article here.
About Lisa Chamzuk
Lisa Chamzuk is a partner in the firm’s Pensions and Employee Benefits Group and Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Information Group. Lisa’s pension and employee benefits practice has a particular emphasis on multi-employer pension plans and health and welfare trusts, usually sponsored for specific industries. Lisa represents dozens of board of trustees and corporate plan sponsors in both the public and private sector and in a wide variety of industries.