The City of Toronto has taken nine employees off the job for their part in an alleged benefits scam.

"It's not a suspension," clarified Kevin Sack, Director of Strategic Communications in a telephone interview.

"The employees have been sent home with pay."

Manulife Financial, the company that provides staff with benefits, and the Toronto Police are investigating the charges.

The nine workers are accused of submitting fraudulent claims through the company's benefits plan.

It appears that Manulife discovered the alleged scam during a routine internal audit.

The city issued a press release Friday saying that the charges were a "great disappointment."

"It's important to have a system to detect this, and we do," Sack added.

"If this is true, disciplinary action will be taken."

The accusations have not yet been proven and the workers have not been named.