NEW BRUNSWICK PROFILE

Current Minimum Wage: $9.50

Scheduled Increases: April 1: $10

2012 Workers’ Comp Average Assessment Rates: $1.70 per $100 assessable payroll (30¢ less than last year(!))

EI Contribution Rate: $1.83 (up a nickel)

CPP Contribution Rate: 4.95% (same as last year)

What to Watch for:

• Adoption of broader unpaid leave rights for military reservists
• Will the 50¢ increase in the minimum wage to $10 scheduled for April 1 take place?—It was already pushed back once (it was originally slated for Sept. 1, 2011)
• Pension reform in the public sector

AREA OF HR LAW

2011 LAWS, CASES & DEVELOPMENTS

2012 CHANGES TO PREPARE FOR

• April 1: 50¢ minimum wage increase to $9.50

• Bill 7, which would expand unpaid leave for military reservists, expected to pass
• April 1, 2012: Minimum wage increases to $10
• Possible creation of special minimum wage for servers earning tips

No significant new ESA legislation or regulation

• New government guidelines on drug & alcohol testing for more legal analysis, click here; for a Model Alcohol Testing Policy, click here
• New government guidelines on pregnancy discrimination

CASES

• Court OKs random alcohol testing of safety–sensitive employee
• Employee doesn’t get job back after disability ends

• New fall protection requirements

CASES

• Supervisor fined $2K for lockout violation

• WorkSafeNB guidance on workplace accommodations of employees with disabilities

CASES

• Respiratory problems work-related
• Workers comp covers injuries in company vehicle

• Average workers comp assessment for 2012 remains $1.50 per $100 of assessable payroll
• Maximum assessable earnings remains $104,000

• FIPA changes, including appointment of arbitrator to resolve privacy and access disputes

• Federal govt puts up $1.2 million to help NB attract skilled professionals from abroad

• Plans must include common law partnerships in commuted value calculations (Bill 16)
• Govt gets OK to make multi-jurisdictional plan agreements with other provinces (Bill 46)

• Government review of public pension plans likely to lead to reform bill