A recent arbitral decision ruled that a school board was
entitled to request an independent medical evaluation (IME) by a
psychiatrist regarding whether its employee was fit to return to
work, even though the employee previously provided the school board
with a comprehensive medical assessment.
In December 2016, after numerous incidents indicating poor
judgment, an elementary school teacher was placed on administrative
leave pending the completion of an investigation. In February 2017,
the administrative leave was converted to a sick leave after a
medical note was provided by the teacher.
During the winter of 2018, the teacher was declared fit to
return to work and resumed her duties. At this time, the issue of
discipline regarding her alleged misconduct had not yet been
resolved. The teacher was again placed on administrative leave in
March 2018. During the school board's investigation, she
disclosed that she had experienced mental illness during her prior
leave
