July, 2010
Civic Holiday/Simcoe Day/First Monday in August: public holiday or not?
Every year we are asked if the first Monday in August (also referred to as Civic Holiday or Simcoe Day in some jurisdictions), is a public holiday under Employment Standards legislation. Well it depends. This year, Civic Holiday/Simcoe Day/First Monday in August falls on August 2, 2010.
CIC ends processing of work permit extensions filed concurrently with pending LMO applications
Until recently, a work permit extension application (for a NOC 0, A, or B occupation), which required an approved Labour Market Opinion (“LMO”), could be filed concurrently with a pending LMO application. However, in July 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) posted a notice on its website indicating that concurrent filing would no longer be permitted.
Can I wear my flip-flops to the worksite?
Self-employment runs in my family. My sister’s 17-year-old is spending her summer days working in the family cabinet-making business. She reluctantly changed into more suitable footwear before heading out the door this morning.
For small and medium-sized businesses, cross-training can be a lifesaver
An organization with dedicated departments and strictly delineated staff roles might be easy to manage when things are running smoothly, but what happens when someone gets sick, goes on vacation or leaves the company, and there’s no one else who can perform that person’s duties? Or what if both employees who can perform a certain duty are away from work at the same time? The last thing you want to be doing is scrambling to figure out how to do something at the last minute when you expected it to be done a week before, or training someone to do something entirely new while that deadline looms.
Woman suffered discrimination at work for disability
Elsa Torrejon was diagnosed in early 2009 with breast cancer. After telling her employer about her illness and requesting an indefinite leave to receive treatment for breast cancer, she found herself dismissed and fighting for her human rights.
The health and workplace benefits of team sports
Team activities, whether organized or informal, offer numerous health benefits—both physical and mental—they can be a perfect fit for enhancing workplace wellness.
Interprovincial labour mobility in the unionized construction sector
I recently received in my mailbox the July/August 2010 issue of Inside HRA from First Reference. It deals with interprovincial labour mobility. It’s an interesting read for anyone who works in human resources across interprovincial boundaries. Although we often take for granted that citizens may live and work in any part of Canada they please, there are often unforeseen problems. Some of these problems can be quite challenging for an employer.
Employer’s duty to accommodate an employee’s illness
I am often asked by HR Managers and other supervisory personnel how long an employee can be off work due to illness before he is deemed to have abandoned his position. Many HR people question whether they have to retain the opening indefinitely where there is no reliable prediction as to when an employee will return to work. The issue is important in that…
Organizational behaviour Part I: what is it and why is it important for employers?
Organizational behaviour has been defined as the field of study that investigates the impact that individuals, groups and structures have on behaviour within organizations, particularly workplaces, in order to improve the organization’s effectiveness. But is it important for employers to understand organizational behaviour?
Recent changes to Ontario’s provincial nominee program
During the past few months, the Province of Ontario has announced several changes to the International Student Category of Opportunities Ontario, its Provincial Nominee Program. Specifically, it has announced the creation of the International PhD Graduate Stream and the Pilot International Masters Graduate Stream.
The ‘Ministry’ will investigate complaints of harassment… Really??!!
As a human rights advisor and educator I was encouraged to overhear this educational conversation about harassment at Tim Hortons. I was concerned however that part of the message this group was hearing was incorrect and misleading.
All this hot, humid and smoggy air outside… but what about indoor air quality?
The last few days have been quite hot and muggy. Those without air conditioning at home are especially grateful that they can retreat inside their air-conditioned workplaces for at least most of the day; but what is the air quality inside these areas?
Slaw: Court limits liability for mental suffering
In December 2008, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice awarded Marta Piresferreira, a former employee of Bell Mobility Inc., more than $500,000 in damages arising from an assault at the hands of her supervisor. The Court found the company and supervisor jointly liable for Piresferreira’s damages. Then in May of this year, the Court of Appeal reversed the lower court decision.
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Online indiscretions… well, you know the story
July 19, 2010 Adam Gorley Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources
We’ve heard a bunch of stories over the past year about companies firing or not hiring employees, or challenging their claims of illness, over inappropriate online behaviour, particularly comments and photos posted on Facebook and other social networking websites. While the media have made a big deal of these cases, none has had the profile of CNN’s recent firing of Middle East correspondent, Octavia Nasr. The US news giant felt Nasr had compromised her credibility by publicly tweeting her respect for a prominent Islamic cleric on his death. The Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah had ties to controversial political action group Hezbollah.
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