Toronto hospital lets go 31 workers after benefits 'irregularities'

About $200,000 in claims found to be in breach of code of conduct

Toronto hospital lets go 31 workers after benefits 'irregularities'
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Thirty-one employees of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto have been let go after irregularities were found in employee health benefit claims.

The wrongdoings were found during a routine audit, according to Leslie Shepherd, manager of media strategy, communications and public affairs at the hospital, which has about 6,000 employees. About $200,000 in claims were found to be in breach of the organization’s code of conduct.

“The hospital takes its role as custodian of the public trust very seriously. St. Michael's has a strict policy for its health benefits plan. We are continuing to work with Sun Life, our benefits administrator, to ensure a thorough investigation. To maintain the integrity of that review, we won’t be releasing any further details at this time.”

A memo from Mary Madigan-Lee, vice-president of HR for St. Michael’s, referenced the hospital’s whistleblower policy “which is in place to allow staff, physicians and third parties to raise an issue,” according to GlobalNews.

“Our benefits are offered to all eligible employees to increase you and your families’ health and well-being. Together, we need to use these benefits respectfully.”

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