A reminder: Employees Have Obligations, Too
You probably know that employers are required to accommodate a disability to the point of undue hardship. If you’ve ever been involved in a situation requiring accommodation, you probably also know that “undue hardship” is a very high standard. So it’s good to hear about arbitrators who also…
View the post titled A reminder: Employees Have Obligations, TooProposed Changes to the OHSA: The more things change, the more they stay the same?
Laws intended to change social behaviour are sometimes referred to as “social engineering” legislation. The obvious example is the Human Rights Code, which prohibits discrimination on protected grounds and requires employers to accommodate many of the personal challenges employees face. Som…
View the post titled Proposed Changes to the OHSA: The more things change, the more they stay the same?The Berenstain Bears; Terminations for Cause; and Parallel Universes
Readers of certain age will recall the Berenstain Bears books – either you read them or they were read to you. I’m often reminded of them when I read decisions where a judge or arbitrator says, in effect, “Little Bear, this is what you should not do!” An example can be found in the recent case...
View the post titled The Berenstain Bears; Terminations for Cause; and Parallel UniversesOntario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) increases demands on employers in construction sector Certification Applications
From the “are you kidding me??” file … When employers in the construction sector receive an Application for Certification by a Union, they have two business days to file a Response. You can imagine the whirlwind of activity this creates even if the Application comes to the attention of the r…
View the post titled Ontario Labour Relations Board (“OLRB”) increases demands on employers in construction sector Certification ApplicationsUnions utilizing creative organizing strategies in the service sector
Employers should take note – Unions are using ever more creative means to engage potential members, especially in sectors with low rates of unionization. For example, the United Steelworkers are helping temporary foreign workers employed by a Tim Horton’s franchise in British Columbia …
View the post titled Unions utilizing creative organizing strategies in the service sectorProposed Ontario Bill will Impact Unpaid Wages and Temporary Hiring Agencies
Bill 146, entitled “Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act,” was recently introduced into the Ontario Legislature by Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Labour for the governing Liberal party. Among other minor adjustments, the proposed changes would significantly increase employees’ ability to…
View the post titled Proposed Ontario Bill will Impact Unpaid Wages and Temporary Hiring AgenciesNew Health & Safety Training Obligations
On Christmas Eve 2009 an unfortunate workplace accident took the life of four workers and sparked the Ontario government into action. The Province undertook a review of the existing workplace health and safety training programs. The result has been the implementation of new, mandatory H&…
View the post titled New Health & Safety Training ObligationsWhy Do You Call a Lawyer?
In this entry on Work In Progress Beth Traynor shares an article she read recently that answers the question, “What is it that lawyers sell?”. When clients call me, they sometimes joke that, although I might be personally pleasant to talk to, it’s still a bit like going to the dentist – you …
View the post titled Why Do You Call a Lawyer?“Hot” Issues In Labour & Employment
In her latest blog post, Beth Traynor looks at the impact of extreme heat in the workplace. A 2012 Labour Relations Board decision found that extreme heat can be an ‘Act of God’ and justification for sending employees home if there is a threat to their safety. Beth also discusses the importa…
View the post titled “Hot” Issues In Labour & EmploymentTattoos and Trustworthiness – Discrimination for Decoration?
Do you have tattoos? Do you trust professionals with tattoos? Fashion is constantly changing and more and more people have tattoos and are displaying them in the workplace. In her latest blog post Beth Traynor looks at a 2012 Labour Arbitration decision on whether or not a hospital could ba…
View the post titled Tattoos and Trustworthiness – Discrimination for Decoration?Receive Blog Posts
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