Voluntary improvements to temporary disability benefits in collective bargaining

Abstract

The voluntary Social Security enhancements implemented by privatesector initiative, commonly referred to as supplementary Social Security, are intended to increase the level of coverage provided by the basic or public Social Security system. A common voluntary enhancement in our collective bargaining practice has been (and continues to be) the establishment of financial supplements to the public temporary disability benefit. The purpose of this essay is to provide an accurate assessment of the scope of this phenomenon through direct analysis of collective agreement texts, as well as to explain the extent to which collectively bargained regulation of voluntary supplements to temporary disability benefits can help control and reduce absenteeism, regarded as one of the most serious problems in our labor market.