racial discrimination

Investigating the invisible: Examining subtle racial discrimination (part 2)

February 3, 2020 Rubin Thomlinson LLP Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights, 0

The concept of a “microaggression” has received significant attention in recent years, and was explored more fully in a previous post. At its core, a microaggression is a subtle, often unintentional, behaviour that is rooted in stereotypes about marginalized groups. Despite the absence of ill will, microaggressions in the workplace can nonetheless amount to discrimination or harassment.

discrimination, employment law, microaggression, racial discrimination, Workplace discrimination

Looking in the mirror: Harassment in legal workplaces

July 12, 2019 Rubin Thomlinson LLP Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Training and Development, 0

Whether advocating for a client before the Human Rights Tribunal, drafting a Respect at Work Policy or assisting a client with engaging a workplace investigator, many lawyers are familiar with providing advice about harassment at work, but how many of us have thought about harassment in our own workplaces?

bullying, discrimination, employment law, harassment, harassment and bullying, racial discrimination

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

September 18, 2014 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, HRMS, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Privacy and Security, Recruiting and Hiring, Source Deductions and Reporting, Wages and Compensation

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with the substantial failures of an employer’s management policy; the consequences of failing to pay employees on time; and, an employee’s access request to records.

constructive dismissal, discrimination, duty to assist employee, Employee records, employee's access request to records, employment law, failing to pay employees on time, HRinfodesk, management policy, racial discrimination, regular pay day, termination, termination pay, terminations, wrongful dismissal

Clinging to past knowledge can be costly

November 8, 2011 Andrew Lawson Human Resources, Human Rights, Union Relations

Twice in the last month while conducting training sessions, I have had a workshop participant insist that their workers could NOT file a claim directly with the HRTO because the workers are members of a union. The workers must, they have insisted, file a grievance and settle their human rights claim via the labour relations process. A review of the law reveals the above is simply NOT the case.

Barker v. SEIU, discrimination, employment law, grievance, hrto, human rights code, knowledge, labour relations process, ontario, Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, racial discrimination, Rysinski v. Aecon Industrial, training

Slaw: The boundaries’ of the N-word in employment

January 19, 2011 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Human Resources, Human Rights

Can an employer fire a white employee for using the n-word if it lets black employees say it?

condoning social norm, discipline, discriminated against because of race, discrimination, double standard, employment law, hostile work environment, mixed-motive analysis, racial discrimination, racially offensive, racism, retaliation, terminations, victim of racial discrimination, workplace

Halloween and workplace human rights

November 9, 2010 Andrew Lawson Human Resources, Human Rights

The current movie, “The Dilemma” has caused quite a controversy lately because the character portrayed by actor Vince Vaughan says, “Electric cars are gay.”

discrimination, employment law, Halloween, harassment, political correctness, racial discrimination, Royal Canadian Legion, The Dilemma

Unspoken and unaddressed harassment claims leads to workplace violence

August 13, 2010 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights

I recently read in the news a classic case of unaddressed harassment claims that led to the worst form of workplace violence. This case may stem from the US but all the same principles and warnings apply in Canada as well. The case involves the death of nine people (including the suspected gunman) on Tuesday August 3, 2010, in a shooting rampage at a beer distributor in Connecticut.

beer distributor in Manchester, Connecticut, disciplinary hearing, Guides, policies and procedures, policy manual, racial discrimination, racial harassment, resignation, shooting rampage at a beer distributor in Manchester, unaddressed harassment claims, workplace harassment, workplace harassment policy, workplace investigation, workplace violence, workplace violence policy