medical marijuana

Medical marijuana: Limits to consumption in unionized workplaces

July 23, 2019 Devry Smith Frank LLP Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, 0

A recent labour arbitration decision from Saskatchewan has suggested what the boundaries around workplace consumption of medical marijuana might be.

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Legalization and the workplace: Your questions answered!

March 8, 2019 Stringer LLP Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Training and Development, 0

On October 17, the federal government legalized recreational marijuana use. At the same time, Ontario’s provincial government enacted the Cannabis Act and amended related legislation. Employers are rightly concerned about the possible impacts on the workplace.

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Arbitrator states worker’s use of medical cannabis results in “unacceptable increased safety risk”- grievance dismissed

January 11, 2019 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Recruiting and Hiring, 0

Increased safety risk arising from cannabis impairment in the workplace can amount to undue hardship. This will likely continue to be the case until there are reliable technologies that can accurately and effectively measure impairment from cannabis.

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Q&A: Is an employer responsible if employee drives home while high after using prescribed marijuana?

October 11, 2018 Ava Z Moradi, JD Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll

What duty does the employer have with regard to an employee using medical marijuana during the workday and then driving home after work? What if an accident occurs?

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Q&A: Medical marijuana inquiry during hiring or screening process

August 9, 2018 Ava Z Moradi, JD Employee Relations, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Recruiting and Hiring

Can we ask during the hiring and screening process if a potential employee is using medical marijuana for a position that requires driving or that is a safety sensitive position?

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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

June 28, 2018 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, HRMS, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Union Relations

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with an Ontario labour arbitration decision in which the arbitrator ruled personal emergency leave entitlement is in addition to any floater days allowed under a collective agreement, a recent HRTO decision which held there is no absolute right to use medical marijuana in the workplace, and a recent survey that found job seekers, while enticed by work from home options, are also aware of the pitfalls.

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Sober, safe and productive workplaces: Managing the legalization of recreational marijuana

June 15, 2018 Vey Willetts LLP Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights

The pending legalization of recreational marijuana has raised concerns for employers as to how legalization may impact their workplaces and what steps may be taken to protect staff, ensure safety and avoid loss of productivity.

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Accommodation of medical marijuana

June 1, 2018 Rudner Law, Employment / HR Law & Mediation Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights

The right to accommodation, and the widespread acceptance of medical marijuana, does not mean that employees have a right to use marijuana at work. Safety considerations will be taken into account and although zero tolerance policies will not be automatically enforced, they will be enforced when appropriate.

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2018 will be a pivotal year for employers and HR managers in Ontario – #LearnTheLatest

April 20, 2018 Adam Gorley Accessibility Standards, Announcements and Administration, Conferences, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Standard for Employment, Standard for the Built Environment, Training and Development, Union Relations

Learn the Latest at the Ontario Employment Law Conference

With most of the amendments of Bill 148 now in effect—along with significant updates to OHS and WCB provisions, the upcoming legalization of recreational marijuana, and more on the way—there are many substantial changes employers in Ontario have to deal with now and throughout 2018.

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Cannabis in the workplace

July 24, 2017 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Union Relations

On April 13, Bill C-45 – An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, also known as the Cannabis Act – was introduced and read in the House of Commons.

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Marijuana use remains cloudy

June 29, 2017 Kevin Sambrano, Sambrano Legal Services Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights

As laws regarding marijuana continue to evolve, even now employers are faced with ongoing legal questions concerning medical marijuana use in the workplace.

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Only one week left to register for the Ontario Employment Law Conference #learnthelatest

June 13, 2017 Fred Stewart Accessibility Standards, Conferences, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Government Budgets, Throne Speeches and Plans, Health and Safety, HR and Technology, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Recruiting and Hiring, Standard for Employment

The 18th annual Ontario Employment Law Conference will be taking place on Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at the Corporate Event Center at CHSI in Mississauga. We are very much looking forward to hearing from Ontario Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn and the employment and labour law experts from Stringer LLP! If you would like to register for the conference but haven’t done so yet, registration will be closing on Friday, June 16, 2017.

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Medical marijuana: A high cost to employers? #learnthelatest

May 26, 2017 Stringer LLP Conferences, Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations

A recent case from Nova Scotia illustrates that as laws and social attitudes concerning marijuana change, employers may be burdened with previously unexpected costs.

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Denial of coverage for medical marijuana under employee benefit plan found to be discriminatory

May 2, 2017 Employer Advisor, McCarthy Tétrault LLP HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Board found the Trustees’ justifications for denying an employee’s request for coverage to be “wholly inadequate.” The Plan provided coverage for “reasonable and customary charges incurred for medically necessary drugs and medicines” obtained legally by prescription, and did not require a DIN as a condition of coverage.

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WCB to employers: You need policies before Canada legalizes marijuana

March 29, 2017 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

On March 21, 2017, at a breakout session during a convention on the topic of Canada legalizing marijuana, a spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board says employers should have policies in place before Canada legalizes marijuana, because it could affect safety on the job.

In addition to examining this statement by Saskatchewan WCB, this article also discusses if medical marijuana is a covered medical expense under workers’ compensation.

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