Morneau Shepell Welcomes Government of Canada Plan to Revamp Disability Management

TORONTO, June 10, 2013 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell (TSX: MSI), the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services, welcomed today's announcement that the Government of Canada will be reforming the way it handles disability management for the federal public service.  The announcement was made earlier today by the Honourable Tony Clement, President of the Treasury Board.

Bill Morneau, Executive Chairman of Morneau Shepell, offered the following comments on the announcement:

"We applaud the Government of Canada for taking a much-needed step to modernize its human resource practices. The federal government has a chance to improve the health and well-being of public servants while also reducing costs and improving efficiency.

"Minister Clement's announcement is aligned with best practices in human resource management.  Over the past few years, we have seen many of our clients move in the same direction, with very positive results. Today's announcement provides a framework for shifting the focus to promoting the health and productivity of employees and providing them with more complete income protection.

"The current disability coverage for employees of the Government of Canada is more than 40 years old, and has not kept pace with the needs of today's workforce.  The Canadian workplace has transformed itself over this period and all employers must ensure that their programs are updated to meet current day demands in areas such as mental health, which represents about half of disability claims today. Minister Clement's announcement allows an opportunity to develop an approach that better integrates disability management with employee assistance programs and other workplace wellness programs.  This would be a win-win scenario for the Government of Canada and its employees.

"Similar changes have been implemented in organizations including Canada Post and many major Canadian companies in cooperation with unions and employees, who recognize that moving towards a system that provides a safety net that helps get employees back to work is in the interest of employees."

About Morneau Shepell Inc.
Morneau Shepell is the largest company in Canada offering human resources consulting and outsourcing services. The Company is the leading provider of Employee and Family Assistance Programs, as well as the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans. Through health and productivity, administrative, and retirement solutions, Morneau Shepell helps clients reduce costs, increase employee productivity, and improve their competitive position. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves more than 8,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations in North America. With approximately 3,300 employees in offices across North America, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations across Canada, in the United States, and around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE: Morneau Shepell Inc.

Cathren Ronberg
Director, Corporate Communications
Morneau Shepell
1.416.355.5632
[email protected]