Do Labour & Employment Laws Protect Gig Workers?
As many as 20% to 30% of all Canadian workers engage in some form of “gig work,” like driving, freelance writing, developing websites and even pet-sittting. So, it’s only a […]
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Young Employee Work Hours Requirements – Know The Laws Of Your Province
When and how long can employees under age 17 work? All jurisdictions ban children from working during hours that they’re required to be in school, unless as part of an approved […]
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Employment Protections for Gig Workers – Know The Laws Of Your Province
Gig workers can unionize in some provinces but lack ESA and OHS protections in most of Canada. As many as 20% to 30% of all Canadian workers engage in some form […]
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Employees Use of Recording Devices in the Workplace Policy
While legal analysis of surveillance in the workplace typically focuses on what employers can and can’t do, it’s also important to remember that employees, too, can endanger personal privacy rights […]
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Take 4 Steps to Protect New & Young Employees
How to comply with employment standards and OHS requirements for employees under age 17. Bringing in students or young people to work for the summer can be a win-win. But it […]
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The Top 11 HR Compliance Cases of 2022 (So Far) & Their Impact on You
The court cases most likely to directly affect your HR program and policies. HR law comes from 2 major sources: legislation and court cases. While new legislation, like the recent Bill […]
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BC Makes It Easier for Unions to Get Certified
The 2 things HR managers need to know about Bill 10 On June 2, 2022, BC passed Bill 10 making significant changes to the Labour Relations Code that make it easier […]
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Serious OHS Investigations
DATE: June 29, 2022 TIME: 9:00AM-10:30AM PT SPEAKER: Andrew Wood, Harris & Company LLP Serious OHS Investigations The occurrence of a serious workplace injury or fatality is the worst moment in any safety professional’s […]
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Employee Communication
Interdepartmental communications can be a vital organizational need but often overlooked in the process of managing the individual needs of each department. Some departments require more direct interdepartmental communications and […]
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Ineligibility to Work Due to Vaccine Refusal Is Just Cause to Terminate
She didn’t get fired because she refused to get vaccinated; she got fired because in so refusing, she disqualified herself from being available for work under the agency’s mandatory vaccination […]
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PRIDE Guide
June is PRIDE month, a time to celebrate all people of all genders and sexual orientations. PRIDE stands for ‘Promote Respect, Inclusion and Dignity for Everyone’. As an employer you […]
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Know The Laws Of Your Province on Minimum Age Requirements
All jurisdictions impose age restrictions to protect young workers from being hired for jobs that may harm their health, safety or welfare. Here’s a rundown of the minimum age requirements […]
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Dishonest/Theft in the Workplace Policy
Employee dishonesty, theft and fraud are a perennial challenge for HR directors. Here’s a template you can adapt to prevent and, if necessary, discipline employees who engage in such conduct. […]
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Video Surveillance Policy
Closed circuit television and other surveillance equipment can help you keep your work facility safe and secure. But it can also violate the personal privacy of individuals who are monitored. […]
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Choosing One Of Your Adult Children As Your RRSP/RRIF/TFSA Beneficiary? Think-And Act-Carefully
It's an increasingly common story. A widow has several children, all of them adults. She makes a will that leaves her assets to all her children equally. The widow, however, decides to […]
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Mental Health – Lets Talk About It
The increase of anxiety and depression has been directly linked to lower productivity and higher absenteeism in the workplace... Whether you have been isolated in a remote workspace or exhausted on […]
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An Update On Paid Leave For Illness And Injury Under The Employment Standards Act In British Columbia
Recently, the BC Government passed Bill 19 to make further changes to paid and unpaid leave for personal illness or injury under the Employment Standards Act (the "Act") Background Five days of paid leave […]
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Key Trends In Arbitration Awards Pertaining To Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policies
Since late fall 2021, we have seen a steady flow of arbitration awards emerge in Ontario and British Columbia that consider issues relating to mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in the […]
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Court Of Appeal Certifies WestJet Sexual Harassment Class Action
In Lewis v. WestJet Airlines Ltd.1, the British Columbia Court of Appeal certified a class action concerning the alleged workplace sexual harassment of female flight attendants at WestJet Airlines. The decision […]
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Time Theft Policy
With labour in short supply, HR directors face the challenge of getting maximum productivity out of the employees they have. Perhaps the greatest obstacle standing in the way of that […]
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Mobile Device Company Policy
While it enables connectivity and work from remote locations, allowing employees to connect their personal cell phones, laptops, tablets and other personal mobile devices to your company’s IT systems and […]
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Mobile Device Remote Scrub Waiver
Remote wipe technology is a self-destruct button enabling you to keep lost, stolen or otherwise compromised smart phones, laptops, tablets and other mobile devices containing precious confidential data from falling […]
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COVID-19 Vaccination Policies: Early Employer Successes In Round Two
A number of arbitration awards dealing with COVID-19 vaccination policies were released in late 2021 and early 2022. While most of these policies were upheld, it remained to be seen […]
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Arbitrator Decides Employer Could Terminate Employee Who Refused Government-Ordered Vaccination
On April 4, 2022, in Fraser Health Authority v British Columbia General Employees' Union, 2022 CanLII 25560, Arbitrator Koml Kandola of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board dismissed the union's grievance respecting […]
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At a Glance: Termination of Employment in Canada
Termination of employment Grounds for termination May an employer dismiss an employee for any reason or must there be ‘cause’? How is cause defined under the applicable statute or regulation? In most jurisdictions, […]
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Unionization Made Simpler In BC
Today the BC government announced changes to the BC Labour Relations Code that will make the unionization process much simpler for unions in the province. Employees are currently entitled to a secret ballot […]
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Jobless Rate at a Record Low
Statistics Canada says the unemployment rate in March fell to its lowest rate on record, falling to 5.3 per cent from 5.5 per cent a month earlier as the economy […]
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Part one: BC Relaxes COVID-19 Workplace Measures
British Columbia continues to take steps toward relaxing COVID-19 workplace safety requirements and returning employees to the office, in keeping with recent trends among provincial governments in Canada. On March […]
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Bill 19 Introduces Amendments to Personal Illness or Injury Leave
On March 28, 2022, British Columbia introduced Bill 19 - 2022, Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2022 (Bill 19) for first reading. Bill 19 addresses issues raised after the province’s Employment Standards Act (ESA) was […]
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