May, 2012
May 31, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights, Union Relations
Through Standing Committee on Social Policy hearings, the government heard that students should be allowed to call student-led, single-issue groups specifically “Gay-Straight Alliances” or other similar names. This has angered some Christians, among them Evangelical and Catholic groups as well as their leaders, who feel that this Bill would force them to allow clubs with the name “Gay-Straight Alliance” in their schools. They feel accepting such a premise violates their beliefs, Charter rights and religious freedom.
2011, Anti-bullying, anti-bullying laws, Bill 13, Board employees, bullying, canadian charter of rights and freedoms, Catholic school board, Education Act, employment law, Freedom of religion, Gay-Straight Alliances, Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association, the Accepting Schools Act
May 31, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights
The war is over (and you’re fired)! In the history of questionable dismissals of employees, the saga of journalist Edward Kennedy has to rank near the top of the list. Over 65 years after his firing, his former employer has apologized. (In PDF) Is excessive Internet use time theft? It is now common [...]
accommodation, Dismissal, employment law, Human Resources, internet use at work, productivity, termination, time theft
May 31, 2012 Alan McEwen Human Resources, Payroll, Recruiting and Hiring, Source Deductions and Reporting
In its omnibus budget Bill C-38, the federal government is giving itself the ability to eliminate the use of physical Social Insurance Number cards. According to an article in the May 16 issue of the Globe and Mail, actual SIN cards will no longer be issued as of March 2014. Currently Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan legislation requires employers to ask to see the actual card.
2012 federal budget, Bill C-38, canada pension plan, Canada Revenue Agency, cpp, EI, Employment Insurance, employment law, payroll fraud, SIN cards, Social Insurance Number, T4 reporting
May 30, 2012 Amery Boyer Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations
On May 17, 2012, the Province of Nova Scotia adopted Bill 86, the NewPage Port Hawkesbury Pension Plans Act in response to a request by members of Local 972 of the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union of Canada. The Act extends the life of four underfunded defined pension plans for the employees of the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury pulp and paper mill.
collective agreement, defined contribution plan, employment law, Nova Scotia, pension liability, pension plan, Pension wind-up, underfunded defined pension plans, wind-up period
May 29, 2012 Adam Gorley Employee Relations, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring
Everyone exaggerates their accomplishments on their résumé, right? You say, “Executive Assistant,” when you really mean “Assistant to the Executive Assistant.” You say you were involved with a project that increased profits, improved worker productivity and reduced injuries, when you mean you were accidentally invited to a meeting where the project was discussed. You say you got a university degree that you did not. The last one happened recently in a big way…
board of directors, CEO, employment law, false credentials, false representation, governance, hiring policy, lying on resume, recruiting policy, Scott Thompson, Yahoo
May 28, 2012 Alison J. Bird Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights
In the employment setting, there is a constant tension between an employer’s desire to control its image and employees’ rights to be free from discrimination and to freely express themselves. While it is generally accepted that an employer may impose appearance-based requirements if it establishes a legitimate business reason for the rule, it seems hard to believe that an employer could justify refusing to hire a person based on their physical appearance. However,…
appearance, BFOR, bona fide occupational requirements, British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, discrimination, discriminatory hiring practices, employment law, ethnicity, Freedome of expression, gender, human rights code, legitimate business reason, Physical appearance, stereotypical assumptions
May 25, 2012 Christina Catenacci Health and Safety, Human Resources
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal decided in February that an injured worker who was receiving workers’ compensation benefits up to his termination was not entitled to any further benefits as of the date of his termination. Does this seem fair?
denied benefits, dissent, employment law, loss of earnings, modified work, no loss of earnings, termination, wage loss, workers compensation, WSIAT, wsib
May 24, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources
The National Post recently presented the interesting case in which a New Jersey judge must decide whether someone can be “electronically present” in a car, even if they physically aren’t there, and, if so, whether the person can be held liable for events that take place, or that are caused by their electronic presence.
ban on cellphone use, cellphone use, Distracted driving, the Traffic Safety (Distracted Driving) Amendment Act, vicarious liability
May 24, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources
Beware of terminating long-term employees without proper notice The Ontario Superior Court of Justice decided that an employer terminated a 65-year-old long-term employee without the proper amount of notice or severance. As a result, the employer had to pay hefty damages, interest and costs awards. Entitlement to paid sick leave and termination pay [...]
drake v. blach, employment law, Entitlement, HRinfodesk, proper notice, reasonable termination notice, sick days, sick leave, termination, termination notice, termination pay, wilful misconduct
May 24, 2012 Earl Altman Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources
Most employers in Ontario are aware that the Employment Standards Act imposes standards on employers with respect to the treatment of employees. However, many are not aware that they are required to display a poster issued by the Ministry of Labour titled, “What You Should Know about the Employment Standards Act.” This poster, which can be downloaded from the ministry’s website, advises employees of their rights with respect to employment standards of hours of work, wages, public holidays and more…
employment standards act, enforcement, ESA, hours of work, Leaves of absence, minimum wage, Ministry of Labour, notice requirements, ontario, overtime, overtime pay, payroll records, posting requirements, public holidays, reprisals, rest periods, severance, termination notice, vacation time and pay, What You Should Know about the Employment Standards Act
May 23, 2012 Suzanne Cohen Share Accessibility Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for Employment, Standard for Information and Communications, Standard for the Built Environment, Standard for Transportation
Today’s post is all about hearing from you! Questions arise as to how organizations are dealing with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act compliance requirements. I want to hear from you about the good, the bad and the ugly! Allow me to share your expertise or stories with the rest of the province. Of course, the idea is to help others meet compliance and use the lessons you’ve learned to encourage others. As for your bad ideas that turned ugly, organizations can really use that information to avoid similar pitfalls.
accessibility compliance, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, Accessibility Standards PolicyPro, accessibility training, AODA, ASPP, MCSS, Ministry of Community and Social Services, ontario
May 22, 2012 Adam Gorley Accessibility Standards, Announcements, Human Resources, Payroll
In our continued efforts to provide our readers with valuable and easy-to-use information on the topics that matter, First Reference introduces Inside Internal Controls, a new blog on all things governance and risk management! Follow Jeffrey Sherman, FCA, Ron Richard, Maanit Zemel, myself and others, as we discuss corporate governance, finance and accounting, [...]
employment law, governance, Internal Controls, not-for-profit, updates
May 22, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Corporate Immigration, Human Resources, Payroll, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring, Source Deductions and Reporting
In an attempt to save money, protect privacy and prevent identy theft, the Globe and Mail reports, the federal government has introduced plans within budget Bill C-38, to cut the social insurance number (SIN) card.
employment law, HRSDC, identity theft, Service Canada, SIN, SIN card, Social Insurance Number
May 18, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Union Relations
On Monday May 21, 2012, most Canadians get a day off work with pay on what is called Victoria Day.
Canada, Day off with pay, Public Holiday, Statutory Holiday, Time off with pay, Victoria day
I believe smoking (i.e., nicotine) is recognized as an addiction, as Simon mentions, which would engage the question of discrimination. – Jun 18, 9:40 PM
Even though as a non-smoking employer I support the actions of Momentous Corp, I am surprised they have even attempted to take this position, given... – Jun 17, 5:46 PM
Where in Human Rights does it say that smokers are now protected under one of the grounds and if so which ground are they protected... – Jun 17, 3:28 PM
