Dozing off at work is like absenteeism on the job—only worse. In addition to impairing productivity and sapping morale, napping may endanger workers and the public if the employee who dozes off occupies a safety-sensitive position.
Fasken Martineau partner Katherine Pollock clarifies when drug and alcohol testing is permissible, randomly, pre-employment or for just cause.
QUESTION:
With mandatory retirement gone out the window, what policies are companies putting in place to protect themselves?
A cook is scolded for talking about his schedule while he’s still on the clock. He responds angrily by hurling a plastic cup. It’s the second time he’s lost his cool and engaged in a juvenile fit of temper at work. So the restaurant fires him. He claims wrongful dismissal and sues for damages.
On Dec. 24 2009, a swing-stage scaffold collapsed, killing 4 workers and seriously injuring another. The employer pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death under C-45, the law that changed the Criminal Code to make wanton and reckless disregard for work safety a federal crime.
QUESTION:
I have a salesperson who's going on maternity leave who intends to do some follow-up with clients from home. What about her commission? Does paying out the commission impact her EI entitlements?
A Yellow Pages sales consultant took short term disability leave for hypertension and work-related stress. But his doctor didn’t return the medical forms the company’s disability insurer needed.
QUESTION:
I have a couple of questions.
A recent survey finds a majority of Canadian employees, 61 percent, has met their CEO. Why is it important that employees have contact with the organization’s leadership?
A newly diagnosed diabetic telecom employee returned to work after a one-month leave of absence. Sadly, she found that job stress made it hard to control her blood sugar. As a result, she was often ill and her work suffered.
An Alberta oilfield supervisor claimed the company stopped assigning him
An office worker stayed at work past closing to drink with co-workers and friends. She was drunk when she left the office at 2:00 am and was killed in a head-on collision while driving home.
QUESTION:
Can employers pay a training rate for orientation that's lower than minimum wage?
The operator of a loader had to submit to post-incident drug testing after getting into a minor accident at work.