SBCI is proud to be a Platinum Sponsor of the annual Council of Directors of Education (CODE) CEO/CFO Conference, being held January 20-22, 2026, in Toronto. This conference brings education leaders together from across the province and focuses on improving the Ontario education system. Senior leadership staff from SBCI, including CEO Sari Taha, Director of Finance Lucie Giambattista, Chief Workplace Support Officer Kathleen Gratton, and Chief WSIB and H&S Officer Kelly Melanson will be attending the event.
Sari, Kathleen, and Kelly will also be delivering a presentation to delegates on January 21st. Their presentation is titled – Employee Absenteeism: Sick Leave Is Only Half the Story – and will focus on non-occupational absenteeism, workplace illness and injuries reveal a parallel and equally complex challenge. Possibly underestimated as a source of organizational risk, occupational injury claims carry significant implications for financial sustainability, time away from work, regulatory compliance and ultimately, the continuity of student learning. This presentation will explore the key drivers behind rising costs and extended absences associated with workplace illness and injury claims, including emerging trends in complex WSIB cases over the past decade. Drawing on province-wide data, the session will also examine how occupational and non-occupational absences intersect, amplifying overall disability risk and compounding system-level pressures. By focusing on the story behind the numbers, the discussion aims to support more informed responses and strengthen organizational resilience across the Ontario education sector.