What to Expect (JEIS Process)

The JEIS process begins when the District advises the Health Care Management Specialist (HCMS) and the Union JEIS Coordinator when members have been, or are expected to be, absent for six consecutive scheduled working days/shifts.

Watch this video for what to expect from JEIS.

The process involves the following steps:

1.

Desjardins contacts the absent member within 24 hours (Monday to Friday) or earlier, if required, to assess the situation and to offer assistance. The member will also be contacted by the Union JEIS Coordinator, who will advise them that they will receive a phone call from the HCMS and explain that the JEIS is a valuable, confidential service that the local union fully supports.

2.

Once the HCMS has a confidential discussion with the member about their absence, they will determine whether additional follow-up is required. If the member has already confirmed a return to work (RTW) date in the near future, then the HCMS will contact them to ensure the RTW was successful. However, in cases where the employee is not returning to work shortly, the HCMS will send out a JEIS package to complete.

The package includes:

  • A letter explaining the JEIS program
  • Attending Physician’s Statement to be completed by their doctor
  • Authorization forms (Medical, ICBC, WorksafeBC)

3.

When the HCMS receives the completed forms, they assess the situation and work with the member to develop a plan that may include any of the following:

  • Rehabilitation services

  • Ergonomic assessments

  • Work conditioning

  • Helping the member increase their activities of daily living

  • Arranging independent medical assessments

  • Functional capacity evaluations

  • Transferable skills analysis

  • Physical demands analysis

  • Graduated return to work planning

  • Retraining for a modified job.

4.

The HCMS keeps the District Joint JEIS Committee informed at each step of the process without sharing confidential medical information.

5.

The HCMS remains in contact with the member until they return to work.

6.

If the illness or injury is long-term, the HCMS will help the member apply for Long Term Disability benefits by:

  • Obtaining any additional medical information required to prepare the LTD claim
  • Beginning discussions with the LTD claim specialist at Desjardins

7.

The member is asked to complete an independent, confidential online survey to provide feedback about the JEIS to the PEBT.

You can find details of the process here in the JEIS Procedural Manual.