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Hollywood health and safety horrors

Think workplace safety concerns only impact employees in traditional industries? Think again. Even well-known Hollywood stars can be impacted by a lack of due diligence in their workplaces. Here are some of the celebrities who have been involved in a serious workplace accident.

 

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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 viewed articles in this week HRinfodesk newsletter deals with OHS reprisals, dismissal because employee issued threats, and WSIB benefits for employee assaulted at work…

 

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Navigating the issue of domestic violence in the workplace

Ontario’s recently enacted workplace violence amendment places a legal onus on provincially regulated employers to safeguard employees from the risk of domestic violence in the workplace. Additional jurisdictions are likely to follow suit. In legal terms, domestic violence is increasingly becoming a foreseeable workplace risk. In moral terms, inaction on this growing workplace issue would introduce unacceptable human risk.

 

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Travelling for business – not all fun and games!

How often do your employees travel? If your answer is: “Not that often,” you may not have considered implementing a policy regarding work travel. More importantly, you may not have considered whether you are liable if something happens to a worker while they are travelling. Do you know how the new changes to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act affect work travel and your employees?

 

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Could you be liable for workplace violence? Ontario’s OHSA says so (conclusion)

In today’s blog we will further discuss the challenges facing Bill Bonka as the company heads into court to defend itself against charges of failing to take reasonable precautions and failing to implement an effective workplace harassment program. After investigating the details of the case, the Ministry of Labour laid charges against both Billy Bonka Confectioners Inc. and a manager…

 

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Five steps to effective internal investigations

How often do you undertake an internal investigation? In an environment where employers are under increasingly strict obligations to investigate workplace incidents over an increasing number of issues, employers in Ontario are facing more complaints…

 

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

Connecting to co-workers and employer on social media Our last HRinfodesk poll asked readers if they connect with their boss or any of their co-workers on any social media platform. According to poll results, the majority said they don’t or never will. New mandatory health and safety workplace poster Under the Ontario Occupational [...]

 

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Could you be liable for workplace violence? Ontario’s OHSA says so

Imagine a situation where your employee is seriously injured by an outside party…

 

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The enforceability of termination provisions within contracts of employment

The employment relationship is a contractual one whether or not a contract of employment was signed. Contracts can be express or implied contracts, i.e., you agree to work and I agree to pay you. Verbal bargains are nearly always upheld as long as those implied contracts are governed by particular employment standards and obligations established by the common law.

 

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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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Most viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

Send to Kindle  Workplace bully’s tirade amounts to constructive dismissal When a general manager at a health club felt repeatedly harassed by one of the owners, he claimed the company constructively dismissed him… (In PDF) MOL releases OHSA reprisal guidance for workers and employers The Ontario Ministry of Labour has released a guide for workers [...]

 

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Health and safety training tool kit for immigrants

A few years ago, the Institute for Work and Health decided to look for health and safety resources for recent immigrants. When it didn’t have much luck, the institute took the initiative to develop its own comprehensive tool kit. While the package is designed for immigrant settlement agencies to use in their orientation programs, organizations that employ immigrants should find it contains much valuable information that they can use in their own training efforts…

 

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Important lessons for employers and lawyers on workplace harassment investigations

A hospital employee faced complaints of workplace harassment from co-workers, and the hospital imposed discipline on him, including a demotion. The employee’s union subsequently filed a grievance with the labour relations board. The hospital retained the services of an independent outside investigator who was also a practicing lawyer. When the union requested access to the investigation report, the hospital claimed solicitor-client privilege, and refused to hand it over…

 

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Landmark decision gives insight into workplace harassment and employer reprisal

The Ontario Labour Relations Board has provided what some believe to be the most significant legal interpretation yet of workplace harassment and employer reprisal in the context of the recently enacted Bill 168 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). The case, Conforti v. Investia Financial Services Inc., 2011, was decided on September 23, 2011.

 

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