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Canadian Labour & Employment Law Blog
Consider the Addition of Arbitration Clauses to Employment Agreements
September 11, 2018
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In our June 6, 2018 blog post we discussed the case of Lewis v. Westjet Airlines Ltd. and concerns around workplace harassment and discrimination claims being advanced through class action litigation. Obviously the cost and scale of damages for employers,...
Canada Tables First Federal Accessibility Legislation
August 7, 2018
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Following in the footsteps of Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, the federal government recently introduced the Accessible Canada Act (the “Act”), aimed at bringing down barriers in federal organizations for individuals with disabilities. The new Act defines “barriers” to include...
Bring Your Own Device (to Work): Benefits and Challenges
July 25, 2018
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Mobile devices are pervasive – indeed, it is becoming exceedingly rare to find a workplace that does not incorporate the use of mobile devices in its day-to-day operations in some fashion. While there are several ways companies can integrate mobile...
Be Careful How You Downsize
July 4, 2018
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Many employers face the need to downsize from time to time. Instead of proceeding with layoffs, some offer voluntary severance packages (VSPs) in the hope of achieving staffing reductions in a relatively pain and conflict free manner. A recent Ontario...
Consuming Medical Marijuana at Work Can Get One Fired
June 26, 2018
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The termination of an employee observed using cannabis while driving a Town vehicle has been upheld in Saskatchewan. In The Town of Kindersley v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 2740, the board of arbitration determined that termination was appropriate,...
The Countdown Is On… Cannabis Legalization Approaches
June 21, 2018
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On June 19, 2018, the Canadian Senate voted in favour of the Federal Government’s Cannabis Act, paving the way for Royal Assent and legalization of cannabis in Canada. The legislation includes a provisional buffer period of eight to twelve weeks,...
Workplace Harassment Investigations: What Employers Need to Know
June 19, 2018
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Conflict between employees and misconduct by employees is a fact of employment life in most workplaces. An employer may be required to conduct an investigation into incidents and complaints of workplace harassment or violence. Applicable governing legislation in Ontario, for...
Culture of Harassment – Should Employers be Concerned About Potential Class Actions?
June 6, 2018
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WestJet has appealed the December 2017 decision of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Lewis v. WestJet Airlines Ltd. in which the Court refused to strike a proposed class action filed on behalf of present and former female flight...
HRTO Denies Discrimination Claim in Medical Marijuana Case
May 30, 2018
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In Aitchison v. L & L Painting and Decorating Ltd., the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (“HRTO”) recently had the opportunity to consider the intersection of the issues of drug use in the workplace, accommodation of a disability and termination for...
Get Ready: New Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Will Soon Be in Effect in Alberta
May 24, 2018
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Following closely on the heels of its changes to the Labour Relations Code and the Employment Standards Code, Alberta has passed new occupational health and safety legislation. Employers must quickly get up to speed on these changes, as most of...
Disclaimer
This blog sets out a variety of materials relating to the law to be used for educational and non-commercial purposes only; the author(s) of this blog do not intend the blog to be a source of legal advice. Please retain and seek the advice of a lawyer and use your own good judgement before choosing to act on any information included in the blog. If you choose to rely on the materials, you do so entirely at your own risk.
