Friday, July 16th, 2010
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?
Read the rest of this post »Friday, June 18th, 2010
Are your employees suffering from the “World Cup Flu”? Are you finding that there is an unusually high rate of absenteeism in your office these days?
Read the rest of this post »Thursday, June 17th, 2010
On May 29, the federal government introduced Bill C-29, the Safeguarding Canadians’ Personal Information Act, which makes substantial changes to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). The Bill had been in development for several years, and one of its primary objectives was to address a significant gap in PIPEDA, the issue of mandatory disclosure of “material” breaches of personal information by the companies or organizations responsible.
Read the rest of this post »Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
The question of whether an employer should give reasons at the time of dismissal is an important one in employment law…
Read the rest of this post »Tuesday, June 15th, 2010
The Ontario Superior Court re-affirmed the freedom of employees to leave their employer and set up a competitive business.
Read the rest of this post »Monday, June 14th, 2010
I lifted that title from a presentation at the recent Davis LLP employment law update, because I don’t think I need to improve on it. The question seems simple, but I’m certain that it has got many employers and human resources departments wishing the handy devices had never been invented! (Okay, maybe not that confused.)
Read the rest of this post »Friday, June 11th, 2010
I was recently reading an issue of SafetyNewsAlert, which indicated that there were over 20 attempted suicides over one year in a single Chinese technology factory—one that manufactures products for Apple, including the iPad, among other things. Out of the 20 attempts, 9 suicides were successful within a period of five months. According to the article, questions are being raised about the sustainability of China’s manufacturing model, which relies on long hours from its workers. Typical workweeks include seven days of twelve hours.
Read the rest of this post »Friday, June 11th, 2010
In my previous post on hazing and horseplay in the workplace, I referred to a recent incident where photos and videos revealed some very questionable events involving management and employees of the City of Mississauga. Since the acts were potentially criminal, the police became involved and started an investigation. Although some have said that the employees consented to the horseplay and hazing, one may wonder if that was really the case.
Read the rest of this post »Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
Ontario Ministry of Labour health and safety inspectors discuss employers’ responsibilities around workplace violence and harassment…
Read the rest of this post »Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
To our great surprise, First Reference recently got a visit from an Ontario Ministry of Labour Occupational Health and Safety Inspector. I knew we had nothing to worry about; however, it is still unnerving when an inspector comes knocking at the door…
Read the rest of this post »Tuesday, June 8th, 2010
This case contains an interesting detail of particular interest to managers who feel harassed by health and safety anti-harassment policies…
Read the rest of this post »Monday, June 7th, 2010
Despite such pressing topics as the fast-approaching Bill 168 changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, almost certainly the biggest topic this year was the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). I mean, you’ve already prepared your organization for Bill 168, right—and it wasn’t too painful, was it? Well, the AODA Customer Service Standard is going to creep up quickly, too, and it will change the way you do business.
Read the rest of this post »Friday, June 4th, 2010
I recently read an article on “hazing” and “horseplay” in the workplace. Photos and videos revealed incidents where employees were subjected to some very unusual, and downright unacceptable, treatment in the transportation and works department of their municipal employer.
Read the rest of this post »Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
Making the decision to dismiss an employee for just cause and litigating a wrongful dismissal claim on the basis of summary dismissal are two different things…
Read the rest of this post »Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
It was recently brought to my attention that last April, several US news sources reported that the first Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA) case has been filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
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Leslie D Foreman:Andrew Taillon:
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