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BC Court of Appeal affirms BC approach to “family status” discrimination cases

Global Workplace InsiderBy Jennifer Lang-Hodge on Posted in Canada
The British Columbia Court of Appeal (the “BCCA”) recently issued an important decision about family status discrimination. In Envirocon Environmental Services, ULC v. Suen (“Envirocon”), a unanimous BCCA affirmed the existing legal test for adverse discrimination on the ground of family status under the BC Human Rights Code (the “Code”). For BC employers, this is a welcome … Continue reading

Ralentissement de travail : l’enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions

Laurie DuhemBy Laurie Duhem on Posted in Québec
Perturbations du réseau d’autobus, vitrines vandalisées, courrier accumulé dans les centres de tri … Ces derniers mois, nous avons pu constater que les moyens de pression ne cessent de s’inviter sur la scène médiatique québécoise. À cet égard, le ralentissement de travail demeure un moyen de pression fréquent mais illégal utilisé par les salariés pour … Continue reading

La nouvelle Loi sur l’équité salariale s’en vient

Philippe BélisleFrédéric DesmaraisBy Philippe Bélisle and Frédéric Desmarais on Posted in Québec
L’équité salariale occupe une place importante dans l’actualité québécoise et canadienne depuis plusieurs mois. En effet, une importante saga judiciaire s’est terminée en mai 2018 lorsque la Cour suprême a décidé qu’une loi sur l’équité salariale, adoptée par une législature provinciale ou fédérale, ne pouvait refuser aux femmes l’accès à des ajustements rétroactifs en cas … Continue reading

New York State and New York City employers face new compliance requirements

David Gallai (US)Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in North America, United States
Recently, New York State and New York City have continued the trend of enacting employee-friendly legislation and issuing broad enforcement guidance under their respective employment laws and regulations.  New York State and New York City employers should be aware of the following recent developments from 2018 and early 2019, and should take action to review … Continue reading

Ontario Delays Pay Transparency Act Coming Into Force

Maxwell RadwayBy Maxwell Radway on Posted in Canada
The Ontario government has delayed the coming into force of the Pay Transparency Act (the Act) from January 1, 2019 to “a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor”. The change comes as part of Bill 57, Restoring Trust, Transparency and Accountability Act, 2018, which received royal assent on December 6, 2018. … Continue reading

Bill C-86 Receives Royal Assent: New Leaves, Greater Notices, Proactive Pay Equity & More

Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Bill C-86, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures (the “Bill”), received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018. As noted in our previous publications on the Bill’s amendments to the Canada Labour Code (the “Code”) and the introduction of the new (proactive) … Continue reading

Bill 47: Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 – Employment Standards Act, 2000 Considerations

Maxwell RadwayBy Maxwell Radway on Posted in Canada
Overview On October 23, 2018, the Ontario Government announced its much anticipated legislation in relation to employment and labour law matters. The legislation, dubbed the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 (Bill 47), will remove or modify many of the obligations placed on Ontario employers by way of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, … Continue reading

Bill 47: Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 – Labour Relations Act Considerations

Maxwell RadwayBy Maxwell Radway on Posted in Canada
Overview On October 23, 2018, the Ontario Government announced its much anticipated legislation in relation to employment and labour law matters. The legislation, dubbed the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018 (Bill 47), will remove or modify many of the obligations placed on Ontario employers by way of the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, … Continue reading

De nouvelles obligations en matière d’équité salariale pour les employeurs de compétence fédérale

Patrick GaliziaPhilippe BélisleBy Patrick Galizia and Philippe Bélisle on Posted in Canada, Québec
Le gouvernement canadien a tenu promesse et a déposé, le 29 octobre dernier, son projet de loi intitulé Loi visant à établir un régime proactif d’équité salariale dans les secteurs public et privé fédéraux. En fait, ce projet de loi fait partie du projet de loi mammouth C-86, Loi no 2 portant exécution de certaines dispositions … Continue reading

Cannabis and the U.S. border – a complex relationship

Rika SawatskyBy Rika Sawatsky on Posted in Canada
Recreational cannabis will become legal in Canada effective October 17, 2018.  However, taking cannabis or any product containing cannabis (whether medicinal or recreational) across Canada’s international borders will remain illegal and can result in serious criminal penalties both domestically and abroad.  This prohibition applies equally to individuals travelling to or from a jurisdiction where cannabis … Continue reading

New York State issues final guidance on anti-sexual harassment law and delays mandatory annual training deadline

David Gallai (US)Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in North America, United States
In September 2018, we reported on New York State’s issuance of draft guidance under the recently enacted New York State law aimed at preventing sexual harassment.  New York State has now issued final guidance under this law.  This includes final guidance regarding: The anti-sexual harassment policy that every New York State employer (regardless of size … Continue reading

DOL issues new opinions on FMLA and FLSA

Rachel Kurth (US)Margaret Rudolph (US)By Rachel Kurth (US) and Margaret Rudolph (US) on Posted in North America, United States
Key opinion letter allows FMLA leave for voluntary organ donation Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued six advisory opinion letters on various Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) and Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) issues.  From time to time, opinion letters such as these are issued to provide legal guidance to … Continue reading

New York State issues draft guidance on anti-sexual harassment policy and training requirements

David Gallai (US)Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in North America, United States
In April 2018, we reported on New York State’s enactment of a new law aimed at preventing sexual harassment. We summarized this new law in detail in our legal update, New York employers should get ready to comply with New York State’s new sexual harassment prevention laws, and our Global Workplace Insider article, New York State’s new sexual … Continue reading

Truth and Reconciliation: New Statutory Holiday Considered for Federally-regulated Workplaces

Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
The federal government has recently publicly announced that it plans to implement one of the 94 recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 2015 report, Calls to Action, or in French, Appels à l’action, which calls “upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National … Continue reading

It Takes Two to Tango: Employee-duties in the Accommodation Process

Taryn MackieBy Taryn Mackie on Posted in Canada
In 2012, Statistics Canada reported that 11% of the population aged 25 to 64 (or 2.1 million people) reported having limitations caused by a physical or mental disability, with conditions ranging from hearing loss, to visual impairment, to mobility challenges, to pain, to mental health conditions.  As our population ages, disability-related conditions are only projected … Continue reading

New York City employers take note: New anti-sexual harassment laws enacted

David Gallai (US)Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in United States
On May 9, 2018, New York City enacted a number of laws addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.  The laws are summarized below.  New York City employers who do not yet have anti-harassment and anti-retaliation policies in place should promptly begin the process for adopting them.  New York City employers should also begin to make … Continue reading

Bill 6 looks to broaden leave entitlements in British Columbia

Marino SveinsonBy Marino Sveinson on Posted in Canada
On April 9, 2018, BC’s Minister of Labour introduced Bill 6, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, to the BC Legislature.  Bill 6 includes proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) to bring certain types of leave into line with the Federal government’s recent changes to the Employment Insurance Act so that employees are entitled to job protection under the … Continue reading

Hello, Bonjour: Parliament Set to Rethink Official Language Requirements in the Provision of Federal Services

Alexa BiscaroStéphane EricksonBy Alexa Biscaro and Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Canada’s Official Languages Act (the “OLA” or the “Act”), the Federal Government recently announced a historic $2.7 billion in funding to support Canada’s official language minority groups and promote official bilingualism from coast to coast. Specifically regarding the provision of services, the 2018 Federal Budget Plan informs that … Continue reading

Bonjour, Hello : Repenser les exigences en matière de langues officielles incombant à certains prestataires de services du ressort fédéral

Alexa BiscaroStéphane EricksonBy Alexa Biscaro and Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
À l’aube du cinquantième anniversaire de la Loi sur les langues officielles (la “LLO” ou la “Loi”), le gouvernement fédéral a annoncé un investissement sans précédent de 2,7 milliards de dollars dédié à l’épanouissement des communautés de langue officielle en situation minoritaire et à la promotion du bilinguisme officiel et ce, dans l’ensemble du pays. … Continue reading

Coming Soon: Heightened Accountability and Transparency in Federal Employment Equity

Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Discrimination and harassment, General
In Canada, most federally regulated employers in the private and public spheres are subject to the Employment Equity Act, or in French, la Loi sur l’équité en matière d’emploi (the “Act”). First enacted in 1986, the Act’s objective is to ensure that federally regulated employers proactively engage in equitable practices that reduce barriers and counter … Continue reading

New York City expansion of sick time law to cover “safe time” goes into effect on May 5, 2018; action required for New York City employers

Rachel Kurth (US)David Gallai (US)By Rachel Kurth (US) and David Gallai (US) on Posted in North America, United States
New York City has recently adopted amendments to the New York City sick time law.  These amendments, which go into effect on May 5, 2018, will require action by New York City employers. Background on New York City’s sick time law Since April 1, 2014, all New York City employers have been required to provide … Continue reading

New York State’s new sexual harassment prevention laws will require action by all New York employers

David Gallai (US)Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in Discrimination and harassment, United States
On April 12, 2018, New York State  Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law new measures aimed at preventing sexual harassment. We summarized these provisions in detail in our legal update, New York employers should get ready to comply with New York State’s new sexual harassment prevention laws, published on April 11th, in anticipation of the bill being signed … Continue reading
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