October 23, 2015 by Chelsea Rasmussen in Human Rights
  • Comments Off on Sexist Comments in Blog Post by Union President not Discrimination “With Respect to Employment”

Sexist Comments in Blog Post by Union President not Discrimination “With Respect to Employment”

In Taylor-Baptiste v. Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Ontario Court of Appeal was faced with the question of whether sexist and offensive posts on a blog created by a union member to discuss workplace issues amounted to discrimination “wi...

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October 15, 2015 by Matthew Curtis in Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on Employee Time Off to Vote in the Upcoming Federal Election

Employee Time Off to Vote in the Upcoming Federal Election

Canadians head for the polls in the federal election on Monday, October 19, 2015.  The Canada Elections Act provides that with the exception of certain employees in the transportation sector, every employee who is an elector is entitled to have three ...

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October 13, 2015 by Claude Marchessault in BC, Pensions and Benefits
  • Comments Off on British Columbia: A guide to B.C.’s new pension legislation for HR professionals

British Columbia: A guide to B.C.’s new pension legislation for HR professionals

On September 30, 2015, British Columbia’s new Pension Benefits Standards Act (PBSA) and Regulation came into effect.  The PBSA has wide-ranging implications for HR Professionals who oversee BC-registered pension plans and certain non-BC-registered p...

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October 06, 2015 by Matthew Curtis in Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on Minimum Wage Increase Now In Effect in many Canadian Provinces

Minimum Wage Increase Now In Effect in many Canadian Provinces

On October 1, 2015, the minimum wage in Alberta, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan has increased. Province Current General Minimum Wage (as of October 1, 2015) Previous General Minimum Wage       Alberta $11.20/hou...

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September 30, 2015 by Mary Picard in Pensions and Benefits
  • Comments Off on Employer liability relating to fees in employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans

Employer liability relating to fees in employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans

Employers who sponsor retirement and savings plans for their employees should ensure that the fees paid by their employees within the plans are reasonable and adequately disclosed.  Lawsuits in the U.S., and a recent regulatory undercover investigatio...

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September 29, 2015 by Sabrina Serino in Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on Employee denied bonus payment on the basis of “somewhat draconian” termination provision

Employee denied bonus payment on the basis of “somewhat draconian” termination provision

In the recent Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision, Kielb v National Money Mart Company[1], an employee was denied a bonus payment upon termination based on the provisions of the employment contract.  In the decision, Justice Akhtar confirmed th...

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September 29, 2015 by Sabrina Serino in Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on Employee denied bonus payment on the basis of “somewhat draconian” termination provision

Employee denied bonus payment on the basis of “somewhat draconian” termination provision

In the recent Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision, Kielb v National Money Mart Company[1], an employee was denied a bonus payment upon termination based on the provisions of the employment contract.  In the decision, Justice Akhtar confirmed th...

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September 24, 2015 by Catherine Coulter in Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on Medical Marijuana in the Workplace

Medical Marijuana in the Workplace

With the recent expansion of legislation permitting the production, sale and use of marijuana for medical purposes, employers should begin to think about crafting a policy which addresses medical marijuana use in their workplace. For example, the smoki...

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September 01, 2015 by Jessie Lamont in Human Rights
  • Comments Off on Creed and Association: Breach of Human Rights Leads to Harsh Penalties

Creed and Association: Breach of Human Rights Leads to Harsh Penalties

The decision in H.T. v ES Holdings Inc. o/a Country Herbs (“Country Herbs”) 2015 HRTO 1067 (CanLII) (“Country Herbs”) serves as a reminder to employers of the significant liability that they face when a claim of discrimination is made out. H.T....

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August 27, 2015 by Jeff Mitchell in Constructive Dismissal, Employment Standards
  • Comments Off on “You quit!” “No I Didn’t, I’m Sick!”

“You quit!” “No I Didn’t, I’m Sick!”

In Betts v. IBM Canada Ltd., the Court was faced with a dispute between Mr. Betts, who claimed he was legitimately absent from his employment due to illness, and his employer IBM, which claimed that Mr. Betts effectively resigned by not returning to wo...

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