religious observances

Good Friday, Easter and Passover in 2017

April 13, 2017 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Good Friday, observed on April 14 this year, is a statutory holiday recognized across Canada. Also, Easter Sunday, observed on April 16 this year, is a retail holiday in some provinces and territories. Regarding Easter Monday, the Federal Government, as well as certain federally regulated workplaces, recognize the day as a statutory holiday. Although, this may not necessarily be the circumstance for the provinces and territories.

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Observing Good Friday, Easter and Passover in 2016

March 23, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

Good Friday, observed on March 25, 2016, is a Christian religious and statutory holiday recognized across Canada. Easter Sunday, observed on March 27, 2016, is a Christian religious holiday as well as a retail holiday, in some provinces and territories.

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Banning the right to wear a cross at work

April 16, 2012 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Human Resources, Human Rights

An interesting human rights case is making its way to the European Court of Human Rights, where the British government is set to defend the right of employers to ban employees from wearing the cross at work as it is not a “requirement” of the Christian faith.

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How to decide if a religious belief should be accommodated

January 31, 2011 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Human Resources, Human Rights

Under human rights legislation in all jurisdictions in Canada, employers cannot ignore the religious needs or observances of employees but must work with employees to try to accommodate them. In addition, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects freedom of religion and expression…

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Christmas greetings in the workplace may be offensive

December 14, 2010 Andrew Lawson Health and Safety, Human Resources, Human Rights

You can’t say ‘Merry Christmas’ anymore—they have taken all the fun out of coming to work. What about my human rights? Wow! Where did all this negativity come from? I decided to do some research and look for the origins of this Christmas bashing and I turned up some interesting cases.

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