workplace violence

Bullying in the workplace

January 24, 2020 Beyond Rewards Inc Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Training and Development, 0

Bullying is usually seen as acts or verbal comments that could “mentally” hurt or isolate a person in the workplace. Sometimes, bullying can involve negative physical contact as well. Bullying usually involves repeated incidents or a pattern of behaviour that is intended to intimidate a particular person or group of people.

bullying, bullying in the workplace, employment law, harassment, workplace violence

5 Key Changes to Newfoundland & Labrador’s OHS Workplace Violence & Harassment Prevention obligations effective January 1, 2020

September 13, 2019 Occasional Contributors Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Penalties and Fines, Training and Development, 0

Violence and harassment is an unfortunate reality of society – and of the workplace. Since April 1, 2019 (when New Brunswick’s new workplace anti-violence and harassment regulations took effect) every Canadian province and territory has an occupational health and safety regulatory scheme dealing specifically with workplace violence.

employment law, privacy, violence prevention, violence risk assessment, workplace investigations, workplace violence, workplace violence and harassment, workplace violence and harassment policy

When should an employer conduct a workplace investigation?

September 21, 2018 Jeff Dutton, Dutton Employment Law Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Training and Development

Under the common law, and specifically under Sections 25(2)(h) and 32.0.5 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario), every employer has a duty to conduct a workplace investigation after an incident of workplace violence has allegedly occurred. In other words, if an employer gets a complaint about violence at work, or if the employer witnesses violence at work, it must conduct an investigation.

complaints of harassment, complaints of incidents of violence, employment law, harassment at work, sexual harassment, violence at work, violence in the workplace, witnesses to the incident, workplace harassment, workplace investigation, workplace violence

Sexual harassment house of cards

January 8, 2018 Michele Glassford Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Privacy and Security

Another week, another list of public allegations of sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment against high profile men in the entertainment industry, politics and beyond. The onslaught of allegations, which began in earnest with the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, followed soon after by allegations against what appears to be almost every other man in Hollywood, created a #MeToo movement indicating that it is a rare occurrence for a woman to have not been abused or harassed, with many instances work-related.

#metoo, employment law, harassment policy, Harvey Weinstein, occupational health and safety legislation, public allegations, sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual harassment policy, workplace harassment, workplace violence

Workplace health and safety law and partisan political arguments

April 17, 2017 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Corporate Immigration, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, International HR Law, Privacy and Security, Training and Development, Union Relations

In March, a discussion was posted with respect to how workplace political expression could go awry with human rights law. The article also provided some best practices on how human resources professionals and employers can appropriately address human rights complaints specifically on the basis of political belief, activity or association. This following discussion, “Part 2”, addresses how workplace political expression could also contravene harassment provisions under occupational health and safety legislation.

employee’s political beliefs, employee’s political expression or position, Employer programs and policies, Employment Act, employment law, harassment, human rights code, occupational health and safety act, Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, workplace harassment, Workplace partisan political arguments, Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, workplace violence

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

April 13, 2017 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: Budget 2017’s proposed changes to maternity and parental leave; Bill 168 and compliance regarding violence provisions under OHSA; and employee sexual harassment and reprisal.

employment insurance benefits, employment law, maternity and parental leave, reprisal, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, workplace violence

Workplace instant messaging: Information overload

April 12, 2017 Lisa Stam, Spring Law Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR and Technology, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Privacy and Security, Union Relations

We all know that social media, electronic communications and the online world has changed how we interact socially. Who has the patience to leave a voice message for a friend about a restaurant meeting place, let alone listen to one? That’s what instant messaging is for. Short, efficient and no small talk. But, does this efficient communication work in the workplace?

employees online, employment law, harassment, instant messaging, instant messaging platforms, occupational health and safety act, online conduct, violence, virtual workplace, workplace harassment, workplace violence, work–related communications

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

February 16, 2017 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: Workplace violence; age as a protected ground under human rights legislation; and the return-to-work process and the role of healthcare providers.

age protected ground, Alberta Human Rights Act, employment law, return to work process, workers compensation, workplace violence

Why is domestic violence more often becoming a workplace responsibility?

January 30, 2017 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Privacy and Security, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

It is understood that domestic violence has been known to effect employees at work in a number of ways; a recent study shows that the problem is widespread.

10 days of leave, Can Work Be Safe When Home Isn't, collective agreement, Collective Bargaining, domestic violence, employee victim of domestic violence, employment law, employment standards act, leave of absence, occupational health and safety act, Sexual violence, statutory leave, Time of with pay, workplace violence

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

September 15, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Notice, Damages and Settlements, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Wages and Compensation

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: a matter that looks at just cause for dismissal; a claim of discrimination in relation to cessation of benefits upon turning the age 65; and claims that address bonus payments on termination.

age discrimination, automatic dismissal, bona fide employee insurance plan, bona fide retirement or pension plan, bonus payments on termination, employee entitlements upon termination without cause, employment contract, employment law, human rights act, occupational health and safety act, reasonable notice period, single occurrence of misconduct, termination without cause, workplace harassment, workplace violence, “zero tolerance” rule

Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk

May 12, 2016 Cristina Lavecchia Employee Relations, Employment/Labour Standards, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Payroll, Penalties and Fines, Privacy and Security, Training and Development, Union Relations, Wages and Compensation

The three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk deal with: An FAQ that addresses an employee harassment complaint; a case that looks at accommodating an employee with a disability; and a notification regarding upcoming minimum wage increases in British Columbia.

accommodation, discrimination, employment law, harassment complaint, human rights, human rights code, Minimum wage increase, Payroll, termination, undue hardship, workplace harassment policy, workplace violence

No room left for doubt: Ontario introduces new workplace harassment obligations #learnthelatest

April 6, 2016 Stringer LLP Conferences, Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Human Rights, Privacy and Security, Training and Development, Union Relations

Workplace harassment has been at the forefront of labour and employment law over the past several years, particularly in relation to the employer’s duty to investigate. The trend continues with the Ontario Government’s recent introduction of Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2016. Bill […]

#Learnthelatest, 17th Annual Ontario Employment Law Conference, duty to investigate under the OHSA, employment law, harassment allegations, joint health and safety committee, legitimate exercise of managerial authority, occupational health and safety act, perils of a faulty investigation, sexual harassment, sexual violence and harassment, Sexual Violence and Harassment Plan Act, workplace harassment, workplace harassment investigations, workplace harassment policy and procedures, workplace violence

Differentiated discipline in the workplace

June 9, 2015 Devry Smith Frank LLP Employee Relations, Health and Safety, HR Policies and Procedures, Human Resources, Union Relations

In a recent decision in an Ontario labour arbitration, at issue was a fight that broke out amongst a few employees. The employer terminated all of those employees that were involved in the fight citing that they had violated the company policy by participating in such aggressive behaviour.

Blanket punishment, company policy, Corrective measures, Disciplinary measures, discipline, employment law, Labour Law, let the punishment fit the crime, Ontario labour arbitration, workplace policies, workplace violence