Depressed Woman loses Sick Leave Benefits cut over Facebook pics..

[Islandgal]

Canada but still..interesting

 

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/20...e-benefits.html

 

A Quebec woman on long-term sick leave is fighting to have her benefits reinstated after her employer's insurance company cut them, she says, because of photos posted on Facebook.

 

Nathalie Blanchard, shown here on a beach holiday during her sick leave. (Facebook)Nathalie Blanchard, 29, has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Que., for the last year and a half after she was diagnosed with major depression.

 

The Eastern Townships woman was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from Manulife, her insurance company, but the payments dried up this fall. When Blanchard called Manulife, the company said that "I'm available to work, because of Facebook," she told CBC News this week.

 

She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on the popular social networking site, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday — evidence that she is no longer depressed, Manulife said.

 

Blanchard said she notified Manulife that she was taking a trip , and she's shocked the company would investigate her in such a manner and interpret her photos that way. "In the moment I'm happy, but before and after I have the same problems" as before, she said.

 

Blanchard said that on her doctor's advice, she tried to have fun, including nights out at her local bar with friends and short getaways to sun destinations, as a way to forget her problems. She also doesn’t understand how Manulife accessed her photos because her Facebook profile is locked and only people she approves can look at what she posts.

 

Insurer confirms it uses Facebook

 

Her lawyer Tom Lavin said Manulife's investigation was inappropriate.

 

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

 

"It's not as if somebody had a broken back and there was a picture of them carrying with a load of bricks," Lavin said. "My client was diagnosed with a major depression. And there were pictures of her on Facebook, in a party or having a good time. It could be that she was just trying to escape."

 

Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but in a written statement sent to CBC News, the insurer said: "We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook." It confirmed that it uses the popular social networking site to investigate clients.

 

Insurance companies must weigh information found on such sites, said Claude Distasio, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association.

 

"We can't ignore it, wherever the source of the information is," she said. "We can't ignore it."

 

Blanchard estimated she’s lost thousands of dollars in benefits since Manulife changed her claim.

[Uncle Leo]

Maybe the insurance company should pay a Chippendale to sit next to her during work hours, then she could go back to work and everybody would be happy.

[TeeSharice]

and thus why I don let my coworkers on my FaCebook or faKebook or even my MWs acct

[Islandgal]

I know IBM has a work-from-home policy...I don't know what her role was in the company....

[Nemeweh]

Yet another reason to not use Facebook...

[mdw2006]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

[Islandgal]

and thus why I don let my coworkers on my FaCebook or faKebook or even my MWs acct

 

Even worst, IBM uses a IM tool, that will let people know where you are too geographically wise..if you don't turn that option off...ask me how I know..

 

try explaining how you are sick, working from home when it shows up that you are in Las Vegas..

Edited November 20, 2009 by Kiowa

[aescutie]

Facebook is going to have a lot of folks unemployed

[Islandgal]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

 

there are ways..not totally private...another reason, I don't put personal photos there..

[squirrelgirl]

I personally refuse to let "Big Brother" take over my life.

 

I'll post pics how I see fit.

 

Good lord. Give me a break.

 

As for this particular case, wow, I had no idea that you could get paid for being too depressed to work. My job is pretty damn depressing, I should look into this.

[TeeSharice]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

 

my employer internally publishes stories like these all the time... 80% of the time, some so-called friend/co-worker accidentally/on-purpose ratted em out

 

many times, folks being nosey about why Susie was out of work for 6 months but yet was healthy enough to go to a wedding sets hings in motion

[Islandgal]

I personally refuse to let "Big Brother" take over my life.

 

I'll post pics how I see fit.

 

Good lord. Give me a break.

 

As for this particular case, wow, I had no idea that you could get paid for being too depressed to work. My job is pretty damn depressing, I should look into this.

 

 

Me either...damn if I haven't lost out over the years..

[Galoma]

I personally refuse to let "Big Brother" take over my life.

 

I'll post pics how I see fit.

 

Good lord. Give me a break.

 

As for this particular case, wow, I had no idea that you could get paid for being too depressed to work. My job is pretty damn depressing, I should look into this.

Word.

[dang]

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

 

I disagree...facebook helped me discover some crazy in some folks I didn't fully know about until they came with the dramatic updates!

 

 

For some reason, I can't get too upset about this. I almost want to say if you are too depressed to work, be unemployed...yea, I will go with that..

[dang]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

 

my employer internally publishes stories like these all the time... 80% of the time, some so-called friend/co-worker accidentally/on-purpose ratted em out

 

many times, folks being nosey about why Susie was out of work for 6 months but yet was healthy enough to go to a wedding sets hings in motion

 

Someday people will learn that work life needs to be serparate! There is no such thing as friends at work!

[Galoma]

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

 

I disagree...facebook helped me discover some crazy in some folks I didn't fully know about until they came with the dramatic updates!

 

 

For some reason, I can't get too upset about this. I almost want to say if you are too depressed to work, be unemployed...yea, I will go with that..

I was just thinking the same.... if you're too depressed to manage to make yourself work, hth are you gonna go out and take pictures partying?!

[Islandgal]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

 

my employer internally publishes stories like these all the time... 80% of the time, some so-called friend/co-worker accidentally/on-purpose ratted em out

 

many times, folks being nosey about why Susie was out of work for 6 months but yet was healthy enough to go to a wedding sets hings in motion

 

Someday people will learn that work life needs to be serparate! There is no such thing as friends at work!

 

For real...we had a chick fake a pregnancy to get time off...she was posting pics etc....I was pissed because we even collected money to send something for the baby...her ex, when they broke up, ratted her out...

Edited November 20, 2009 by Kiowa

[aescutie]

Two things: I did not know sick leave would be paid out for "depression" and I have no sympathy for the chick in this story.

 

Everything ain't for everybody.

[Pam]

"I don't think for judging a mental state that Facebook is a very good tool," he said, adding that he has requested another psychiatric evaluation for Blanchard.

 

I disagree...facebook helped me discover some crazy in some folks I didn't fully know about until they came with the dramatic updates!

 

 

For some reason, I can't get too upset about this. I almost want to say if you are too depressed to work, be unemployed...yea, I will go with that..

I was just thinking the same.... if you're too depressed to manage to make yourself work, hth are you gonna go out and take pictures partying?!

 

Yeah but she was damned if she did, damned if she didn't - her DOCTOR told her to go out and have fun, take short vacations, indulge in nightlife.

 

If she didn't try she'd be busted for not following medical advice. I don't have a lot of outrage for her, but I can see where she would think it was okay to put the pictures up there, since she was following doctor's orders.

[Uncle Leo]

Nothing is truly private, especially when we intentionally post it somewhere else, no matter what others (i.e. Facebook, etc.) say. We all should have gotten over that notion a long time ago.

[minnie aubre]

I personally refuse to let "Big Brother" take over my life.

 

I'll post pics how I see fit.

 

Good lord. Give me a break.

 

As for this particular case, wow, I had no idea that you could get paid for being too depressed to work. My job is pretty damn depressing, I should look into this.

 

 

Me either...damn if I haven't lost out over the years..

 

Seriously!

 

I was thinking I am depressed every morning I have to get up to go to work yet I still do. Shoot.

[Fataliya]

I personally refuse to let "Big Brother" take over my life.

 

I'll post pics how I see fit.

 

Good lord. Give me a break.

 

As for this particular case, wow, I had no idea that you could get paid for being too depressed to work. My job is pretty damn depressing, I should look into this.

 

We get a point for calling out, whether we're sick or not. I called out tonight. Yes, I'm sick, but I'm laying in bed with my laptop, taking puke/crap breaks as I need them.

 

Let someone say something to me, I'll bring in a ziploc bag of turds and vomit to prove my sickness.

[nothingtolose]

Two things: I did not know sick leave would be paid out for "depression" and I have no sympathy for the chick in this story.

 

Everything ain't for everybody.

 

+1

[Doodah]

I wonder how the insurance company got her photo's if she had it set on private?

 

there are ways..not totally private...another reason, I don't put personal photos there..

 

+1 billion zillion

[Uncle Leo]

Let someone say something to me, I'll bring in a ziploc bag of turds and vomit to prove my sickness.

I keep some around for just such an occasion.