Canadian woman loses benefits over Facebook
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BROMONT, Quebec – A Canadian woman on long-term sick leave says
she lost her benefits because of photos on Facebook and she's
fighting to get them reinstated.
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 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 websites such as Facebook.
--AP