Sun Nov 22, 1:20 pm ET
BROMONT, Quebec – A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave for depression says she lost her benefits because her insurance agent found photos of her on Facebook in which she appeared to be having fun.
Nathalie Blanchard has been on leave from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec, for the last year.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Saturday she was diagnosed with major depression and was receiving monthly sick-leave benefits from insurance giant Manulife.
But the payments dried up this fall and when Blanchard called Manulife, she says she was told she was available to work because of Facebook.
She said her insurance agent described several pictures Blanchard posted on Facebook, including ones showing her having a good time at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party and on a sun holiday.
Blanchard said Manulife told her it's evidence she is no longer depressed. She's fighting to get her benefits reinstated and says her lawyer is exploring what the next step should be.
Blanchard told the CBC 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.
Manulife wouldn't comment on Blanchard's case, but did say they would not deny or terminate a claim solely based on information published on Web sites such as Facebook.
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I found this article interesting because Facebook now is such a popular site that even people looking for jobs have to be careful with what they post because on the long run it could not help them. As for this situation I think it is a bit unfair, but at the same time if she has time to party and relax she can also go to work. I understand many people get stressed with work but I don't think this is an excuse to not working. Many people suffer from the same thing and look for other jobs that are not as stressing. Maybe working in a garden or a flower shop can help relax her. I think she has options but is just taking the easy way out. Who wouldn't like to be paid to just sit in bed and go out? I would love that!
ReplyDeleteDo you think it was fair for the employer to be looking at her Facebook account to check on her? Seems like they were nosing into her private life (even if on a public web site). On the other hand, if she's missing work and getting paid disability leave, maybe they have a right to be sure she is really sick. But does that mean following her on Facebook?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that stalking people on the internet is in any way nosing into their private life. The internet as a whole is free game and you have to be ready to own up to anything that you do. There are so many ways you can be anonymous if you care to be on the internet, but there are a few where you have to be more professional and only post pictures / quotes that you want everyone to see.
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of people getting disability from an insurance company because they are depressed? I find that very hard to understand particularly in a insurance companies eyes. I almost feel like they were trying very very hard to get her off their payroll anyway that they could.
I agree with Hayden. What the insurance company did may not be right, or even ethical, but they did it based on information Blanchard gave them herself. I think it will be interesting to see how this lawsuit pans out as well as future laws involving companies and the information displayed on sites like facebook.
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