Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
A colleague of mine thought bedbug infestation invading the workplace would be a good blogging topic because of the frisson he got just thinking of it.
Read the rest of this post »Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
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.
Read the rest of this post »Tuesday, July 13th, 2010
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.
Read the rest of this post »Friday, July 9th, 2010
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?
Read the rest of this post »Thursday, July 1st, 2010
First, we at First Reference would like to wish everybody a happy and safe Canada Day! Second, several laws in various jurisdictions are coming into force today. They are…
Read the rest of this post »Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
You have a legal obligation to understand how the race, religion and sexual orientation of your employees can impact their safety at work. Understanding these factors will empower you to take steps to protect your workers from harassment and violence as required by the recent amendments to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bill 168).
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 »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 »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 »Friday, May 28th, 2010
Last chance to register for the First Reference 11th Annual, Ontario Employment Law Conference, on June 2, 2010…
Read the rest of this post »Friday, May 21st, 2010
There’s lots of talk in Ontario’s workplaces and online about workplace violence and harassment and the Bill 168 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Hopefully by now the message is getting through, and employers are taking the steps to prepare for the June 15 deadline. (That’s about three weeks away!)
Read the rest of this post »Thursday, May 13th, 2010
On May 13, 2010, the Ontario government announced new measures to increase safety in the construction industry. These measures are a result of past enforcement inspection blitzes at construction worksites.
Read the rest of this post »Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
My colleagues and I recently made fun of the possible employment law issues that could come out of the implementation of full-body scanners as a form of screening device for airport security. But I never expected this, and so soon.
Read the rest of this post »Monday, April 19th, 2010
The Ministry of Labour has announced that the safety of young and new workers will be the focus of a four-month enforcement health and safety blitz across Ontario beginning in May 2010. According to the government, young and new workers in Ontario are four times more likely to be injured during the first month of employment than at any other time.
Read the rest of this post »Thursday, April 1st, 2010
Ontario’s upcoming occupational health and safety violence and harassment rules require that employers implement violence and harassment prevention policies. Manitoba and Saskatchewan also require OHS policies for both workplace hazards. When drafting or updating your violence/harassment policies to meet legal OHS requirements (e.g., Ontario’s Bill 168), are you creating individual policies or integrating your policies? That was the question asked in the most recent HRinfodesk poll. According to the results of the poll, out of 155 responses, 84 (~54%) respondents intend to comply to the letter of the law, while 71 (~46%) respondents have taken another approach by integrating both policies into one.
Read the full article on HRinfodesk.
Read the rest of this post »
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