employee benefits

Protecting jobs in an emergency – Amendments to BC Employment Standards Act

March 26, 2020 Occasional Contributors Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation, 0

On March 23, 2020, the Employment Standards Amendment Act (No. 2), 2020 came into force. It amends the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19, employee benefits, employment law, illness and injury leave, Job protected leave, job protection, leaave, medical notes

The most common mistakes made in Quebec vacation policies

July 18, 2019 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, French Based HR/RH Content, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Wages and Compensation, 0

As employment counsel, we routinely work with employers to identify issues with their policies and practices as they relate to vacation (annual leave) and vacation pay under Quebec’s An act respecting labour standards. In this post, we identify four of the most common errors and misconceptions made by employers.

employee benefits, employment law, vacation entitlement, vacation pay, vacation policies, vacation time

Proposed changes to the Quebec Act respecting labour standards: What employers need to know

May 24, 2018 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

On March 20, the Quebec Minister of Labour introduced Bill 176, amending the Act respecting Labour Standards (the “LSA”). The Bill proposes sweeping changes to the LSA.

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Employee benefits: Government health insurance and employer benefit plans

March 7, 2018 Lisa Stam, Spring Law Payroll, Pensions and Benefits

Health and Dental Benefits are valuable to employees, even in the land of free health care. This is especially true for those employees who have dependants, as benefit plans will typically insure the employee’s family.

employee benefits, employer benefit plans, employment law, government health insurance, Pensions and Benefits

Year-end payroll: Make a list and check it twice!

November 22, 2016 Marcia Scheffler Employment/Labour Standards, HR Analytics, HRMS, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Wages and Compensation

The first snowflakes gently fell from the sky this past weekend in Waterloo, a reminder that the holiday season is fast approaching. In our house we were tuning up the snow blower and writing Christmas lists. It is also that time of the year when organizations should create a year-end payroll checklist and prepare for any tune ups needed for the first payroll of the New Year. We all want to stay on the Canada Revenue Agency’s “nice” list and off of the “naughty” list!

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Employers, be careful what you say during pre-employment discussions, it may cost you

September 30, 2016 Devry Smith Frank LLP Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations

The Supreme Court of British Columbia recently decided that misleading or inaccurate statements made by an employer during pre–employment discussions can result in liability for negligent misrepresentation. In the case before the court, an erroneous statement was made by the representative of the Defendant employer during a pre–employment phone conversation. The statement in question was in reference to the Plaintiff’s eligibility for the Defendant’s long–term disability benefits plan. As a result, damages awarded to the Plaintiff for the negligent misrepresentation totalled nearly $100,000.

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Don’t make promises you can’t keep (even inadvertent ones) – a good lesson for all BC employers

June 28, 2016 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The recent decision of the BC Supreme Court in Feldstein v. 364 Northern Development Corporation provides a cautionary tale for well-meaning employers seeking to provide compensation and benefits package details to candidates during the interview process.

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FAQ: Do employees in Ontario who take maternity and parental leave for the one year accrue their regular vacation as per their employment contract?

June 2, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation

Recently we received a question of whether employees in Ontario who take maternity and parental leave for the one year accrue their regular vacation as per their employment contract. If that were so, the inquirer wanted to know whether it was normal practice to allow those employees to take the accrued vacation right after their leave has ended (i.e., extending their time off).

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Register for the 15th Ontario Annual Employment Law Conference

April 21, 2014 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Accessibility Standards, Conferences, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Standard for Employment, Union Relations

The 15th Annual Ontario Employment Law Conference, is taking place June 10, 2014, at the Mississauga Convention Centre. This event is hosted by First Reference, with presentations by the lawyers at Stringer LLP experts in the areas of employment and labour law.

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Understanding the rights of pregnant employees in Ontario

May 29, 2013 Earl Altman Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Pregnant employees or those employees intending to become pregnant, enjoy significant protection under various provincial and federal statutes. This article will explore the protections provided by the Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, and the Employment Insurance Act.

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

March 21, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Wages and Compensation

The three most viewed articles on HRinfodesk this week deal with whether employee referral fees should be included in income, sickness EI benefits for employees on parental leave and positive strategies for employees with arthritis.

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Most-viewed articles this week on HRinfodesk

September 27, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations

The three most viewed articles in this week’s HRinfodesk newsletter deal with the new EI benefit for parents with critically ill children, constructive dismissal and benefits for workers who work past 65 years of age…

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Québec and Ontario sales taxes on group employee benefits

December 23, 2011 Alan McEwen Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting

Employee benefits are subject to provincial sales in both Ontario and Québec, at 8 and 9 percent respectively. These sales taxes only apply to coverage provided through group plans so, for example, term life insurance provided to just one individual is not subject to tax. These taxes are separate from the normal HST, GST or QST that apply in these provinces. These taxes apply to both employee and employer payments of premiums for the coverage or benefits supplied.

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Conflicting views on engagement?

April 14, 2011 Adam Gorley Health and Safety, Human Resources, Recruiting and Hiring

There are a lot of factors to employee engagement. Some employees need recognition, in the form of pay, benefits, seniority or favour. Others need to feel that they are part of the company and have a stake in its success. Still others need to feel a connection to their work; it must be creative and challenging. Most workers probably need some balance of all these factors. I know I wouldn’t last long in a dull and repetitive environment. But I also would feel unappreciated if I weren’t remunerated appropriately.

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