Nova Scotia
November 18, 2013 Amery Boyer Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines
The Nova Scotia government website publishes information on employer convictions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations. For 2012-2013, there are 9 convictions listed to date. They include fines ranging from $1,500.00 to $77,600 plus a $5,000 alternative fine:
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October 15, 2013 Amery Boyer Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Recruiting and Hiring, Training and Development
The newly elected Liberal government platform states that businesses need workers, and recent graduates and skilled workers need experience. The Liberal government states that it will support young graduates to develop the necessary skills and gain experience in their fields and develop an Accessibility for Nova Scotians with Disabilities Act.
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September 17, 2013 Amery Boyer Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation
On September 2, 2013, Premier Darrell Dexter announced plans to amend the Labour Standards Code to allow someone employed for six months with an employer to qualify for pregnancy/parental leave.
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August 16, 2013 Alison J. Bird Health and Safety, Human Resources
In January, 2010, Nova Scotia introduced an administrative penalties regime through regulations made pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act. This system has been controversial since its inception and the Nova Scotia Government has recently proposed significant changes.
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June 11, 2013 Amery Boyer Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Recruiting and Hiring
What happens when an employee subject to one-year contracts requests pregancy leave? The employee in this case had been working for the Community Justice Society in Nova Scotia on a one-year contract basis for two years. She asked for a meeting with the executive director because her contract was ending in a month’s time. She […]
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May 6, 2013 Alison J. Bird Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits
The Nova Scotia government has tabled a new Bill which proposes to amend the Labour Standards Code to create new unpaid leaves for parents and guardians. If passed, Bill 3, the Support for Parents of Critically Ill or Abducted Children Act, will give employees the right to take the following unpaid leaves:
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April 3, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations
Effective January 1, 2013, under the Canada Labour Code, federally-regulated employers must provide employees who have completed six consecutive months of continuous employment; and, under the Manitoba Employment Standards Code, provincially-regulated employers must provide employees who have completed 30 days of continuous employment, with:
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March 12, 2013 Amery Boyer Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits
Pension funding rule changes announced on February 13, 2013, will protect jobs and preserve benefits for thousands of private-sector workers, according to the Government of Nova Scotia.
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February 11, 2013 Alison J. Bird Employee Relations, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights
Across Canada, there is a trend in human rights law to increase protections for transgendered individuals. Last year, Ontario and Manitoba joined the Northwest Territories in expressly including “gender identity” as a prohibited ground of discrimination under their human rights legislation. Ontario also included “gender expression” as a prohibited ground. In addition, Nova Scotia in 2012 added “gender identity” and “gender expression” to its Human Rights Act to protect transgendered persons from discrimination.
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December 21, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights, Integrated Accessibility Regulation, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Standard for Customer Service, Standard for the Built Environment, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation
Several changes to pension, employment standards, payroll and other legal requirements are coming into force January 1, 2013 or later. Below you will find brief summaries, listed by jurisdiction, of some of the important changes employers need to know about and prepare for: (The post is now updated and includes the new AODA Built environment requirements coming into force January 1, 2013).
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December 13, 2012 Amery Boyer Employee Relations, Human Resources, Union Relations
Earlier this year, the Nova Scotia Labour Board ruled on an application by Local 849 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees for certification of some technical workers of Egg Studios. Egg Studios is a television commercial and digital content business. It has applied to Nova Scotia Supreme Court for a judicial review of the decision. A hearing on Egg’s application is not expected to take place until March 6-7, 2013, according to court documents. Egg Studios maintains the labour board erred in law by amending the…
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June 28, 2012 Amery Boyer Human Resources, Union Relations
On March 5, 2011, the Nova Scotia Labour Board issued an interim order that could set a precedent across Canada, not just in Nova Scotia. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, its Territories, and Canada, Local 849 applied to certify contract workers employed on an as-required basis by Egg Films Inc.
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May 30, 2012 Amery Boyer Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations
On May 17, 2012, the Province of Nova Scotia adopted Bill 86, the NewPage Port Hawkesbury Pension Plans Act in response to a request by members of Local 972 of the Communications, Energy, and Paperworkers Union of Canada. The Act extends the life of four underfunded defined pension plans for the employees of the former NewPage Port Hawkesbury pulp and paper mill.
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December 22, 2011 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Accessibility Standards, Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Standard for Customer Service, Wages and Compensation
It’s the time of the year again when employers and payroll specialists have to start their T4 year-end process and need to know what’s new in payroll for 2012. In addition, several changes to pension, employment standards and other legal requirements are coming into force January 1, 2012. This blog post provides you with a brief summary of some of the changes employers need to know and prepare for:
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