employee absences

Medical evidence and employee absences

December 13, 2016 Stringer LLP Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

A recent decision from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice confirms that employers are within their rights to require medical notes when employees are absent from work. However, this decision stands as a warning to employers that although they can ask, they may not be able to summarily terminate an employee who fails to comply.

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Yes your employees may be legally entitled to time off work to watch their kids, even if they give you no advance notice

September 7, 2016 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll

Alberta employers should keep this decision in mind when responding to an employee’s last minute request or demand for time off work to deal with childcare obligations, and even other family needs. Arguably, and if the right facts exist, employees could be protected under the Alberta Human Rights Act even if they have made no efforts to seek out alternate child care. The result is that they could be entitled to the short period of time off, in most cases despite the negative impact that their absence will have on the employer’s operations.

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

September 1, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: the issue of workplace absenteeism; a case that addresses the issue of medical marijuana use by an employee who works in a safety-sensitive position; and a FAQ that addresses the provincial standard for training employees on Bill 132 (Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2016).

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

June 23, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: A case that applies a three-part test to determine just cause; a case that provides a reminder that both employers and employees are required to give reasonable notice of termination at the conclusion of an employment relationship; and a case where an employee failed to provide sufficient medical evidence supporting her absences, therefore her termination was deemed justified.

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‘Tis the season – World Cup soccer has returned, and so too may absences

June 13, 2014 Christina Catenacci Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, HRMS, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation

During previous World Cups, many employees including myself battled with the World Cup Flu. Well, employers should prepare for another outbreak starting June 12, 2014, when FIFA World Cup Brazil begins, and will go on for about a month.

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Disability management: Ignoring employee absences may prove costly for organizations

July 7, 2010 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor HRMS, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits

A while back, the Conference Board of Canada came out with a study that found while workplace absenteeism continues to rise, Canadian employers take a “relaxed” approach to tracking employee absences and measuring their cost. According to the study, the absenteeism rate has been increasing steadily in the past decade, rising to 6.6 days per full-time employee in 2008–09 from 5.7 days in 2000–01, the most recent fiscal year. This is the highest point since the board began surveying employee absences 20 years ago.

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