2014 Ontario Employment Law Conference

Ontario Employment Law Conference wrap-up: We learned the latest!

June 16, 2014 Adam Gorley Accessibility Standards, Conferences, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring, Standard for Employment, Training and Development, Wages and Compensation

Last Tuesday, over 100 businesses from across Ontario joined us and the employment law team from Stringer LLP to discuss pressing employment issues like avoiding occupational health and safety penalties, accommodating employees’ family status, getting ready for the new Employment Standard, using employment contracts to protect your business, and the perils of employee benefits.

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BC Labour Relations Board waters down Irving Pulp

May 22, 2014 Stringer LLP Conferences, Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, International HR Law, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations

Employers are still wrestling with the consequences of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on the random drug and alcohol testing of employees in Irving Pulp. While the initial reaction from arbitrators appears to suggest that Irving Pulp made the likelihood of such a program surviving a challenge minimal, a decision out of the British Columbia Labour Relations Board indicates that there may still be room in Canada for these sorts of programs.

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What is the next step in AODA compliance? The Employment Standard

May 9, 2014 Stringer LLP Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring, Standard for Employment, Training and Development

The AODA Employment Standard deadlines are not as far away as they may seem. The Employment Standard is one of five accessibility standards under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. It outlines accessibility requirements employers must meet throughout the employment life-cycle.

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Learn the latest! — Family status accommodation

May 7, 2014 Stringer LLP Conferences, Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation

In most jurisdictions in Canada, human rights legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of “family status.” Until recently, few cases were brought alleging discrimination under this branch. However, recent decisions across several jurisdictions have made it clear that employers must be attentive to this ground of discrimination or risk exposing themselves to significant liability.

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Learn the latest! — Workplace health and safety inspections and investigations

April 24, 2014 Stringer LLP Conferences, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines

Courts across Canada have been imposing record high fines and sending business owners, managers and supervisors to jail for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) contraventions. The Courts have also made it clear that it will be appropriate in some cases to impose a fine which has the effect of bankrupting an employer. A Court has also held that the Ministry of Labour itself could be liable to accident victims for damages resulting from negligent inspections.

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