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Ministry of Labour

How can employers make legitimate deductions from an employees pay under the Ontario Employment Standards Act

A situation that arises all the time is whether an employer can deduct the full amount of a loan, an overpayment, the cost of faulty work, cash shortages or stolen goods or the costs of their uniforms. The issue of employer deductions is governed by section 13 of the Ontario Employment Standards Act (ESA) and a clear understanding of the rules will avoid disputes and potential claims by the employee to the Ministry of Labour, Employment Standards Branch.

 

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Assessing the risk of violence at work

Companies have had almost 3 years to implement violence and harassment prevention in the workplace provisions under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act , OHSA (also known as Bill 168). Like other items in the OHSA, obligations on employers to prevent workplace violence and harassment with written policies and programs require ongoing commitment, training, and review. A few highlights of some of the requirements that employers with five or more employees must demonstrate include:

 

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The prevention mandate at the Ministry of Labour: What WSIB and MOL transitions mean for employers in 2013

As of April 1, 2012, the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) officially took over the prevention mandate from WSIB. How has this been impacting employers in 2013 and what real effects are organizations seeing? If you have any comments about this, I’d love to hear.

 

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

The three most read articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with changes to CPP contributions, workplace safety awareness training programs and plans for mandatory training in 2014, and payroll rates for 2013.

 

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OHS poster, increased ESA enforcement and next MOL safety blitz includes violence prevention

The Ministry of Labour in Ontario is putting in place several enforcement measures to ensure compliance with Employment Standards and Occupational Health and Safety, including proactive and increased inspections of workplaces.

 

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The fate of WSIB safety groups program and JHSC certification training following the passing of Bill 160

On April 1, 2012, certain provisions under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 (formerly Bill 160) came into force, including the prevention mandate in Ontario and Joint Health and Safety Committee certification training. The responsibility for the prevention mandate and the JHSC certification training were transferred from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to the chief prevention officer at the Ministry of Labour.

 

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Ontario Ministry of Labour proactively inspecting temp agencies

To ensure temporary employment agencies/temporary help agencies are in compliance with the Employment Standards Act, the Ontario Ministry of Labour announced on Friday June 8, 2012, a three-month inspection blitz of temp agencies running form June 2012 until the end of August 2012.

 

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New mandatory health and safety workplace poster in Ontario

Under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act employers are required to post the Act and any explanatory material prepared by the Ministry of Labour. Now, this requirement includes the new Health & Safety at Work – Prevention Starts Here poster recommended by the Expert Advisory Panel back in 2010. The poster summarizes [...]

 

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What you should know about the Ontario Employment Standards Act

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…

 

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WSIB introduces safe communities incentive program

Do you, like 98 percent of Ontario businesses, employ 100 or fewer employees? Then you should try SCIP-ing into spring with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s Safe Communities Incentive Program.

 

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It’s time for an ergonomics refresher on training

A while back, I wrote about how mandatory training in ergonomics would be an effective way of preventing workplace injuries (musculoskeletal injuries/disorders and repetitive strain injuries), reducing absenteeism, increasing productivity and improving morale in the workplace. Have my opinions changed?

 

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Proposed privacy changes in British Columbia

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Amendment Act, 2011 (Bill 3) was introduced in the British Columbia legislature on October 4, 2011. The Bill aims to facilitate digitization, compiling, sharing and combining of personal data across government ministries (including the Ministry of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government). Individuals would be able to access government services with a secure digital identification card and personal ID number.

 

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Slaw: IQT’s closure: A fine example of poor corporate values!

On July 15, 2011, several workers showed up to work as usual at IQT Solutions, only to be told that their employer had unexpectedly shut down its Canadian operations: three call centres, one in Ontario and two in Quebec. About 1,200 IQT employees were suddenly unemployed with no final paycheque, vacation pay or notice of termination.

 

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Sweeping occupational health and safety bill passes in Ontario – impact on employers

The Ontario Legislative Assembly passed Bill 160, the Occupational Health and Safety Statute Law Amendment Act, 2011 by a vote of 79–0. Most provisions of the Bill will take effect when it receives royal assent sometime in June. However, some sections will take effect on either April 1, 2012, or a date set by the lieutenant-governor, whichever is earlier.

 

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Sweeping changes at the WSIB – Learn the latest

There have been some sweeping changes at the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) this year. Are you ready for the new return-to-work and New Experimental Experience Rating (NEER) policies? And do you know about the soon-to-be effective Bill 160? Come join us at the annual Employment Law Conference to Learn the latest.

 

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