Topic: North America

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Stick to the Program – BC Supreme Court awards discretionary bonus to terminated employee based on “reasonable expectations”

Dallan PoulinBy Dallan Poulin on Posted in Canada
In Thoma v. Schaefer Elevator Components Inc., 2019 BCSC 100, Mr. Thoma’s employment contract allowed his employer, Schaefer Elevator, to terminate his employment without cause on six months’ notice by providing Mr. Thoma his “contractually agreed remuneration during the six months’ notice period.”  Mr. Thoma claimed that this included payment of an annual bonus and that … Continue reading

Restriction territoriale des clauses de non-concurrence dans l’industrie technologique – lorsque la limitation semble elle-même avoir une limite

Xavier HamelBy Xavier Hamel on Posted in Canada, Québec
Les clauses de non-concurrence sont régulièrement utilisées tant dans le cadre de contrats commerciaux que dans le cadre de contrats d’emploi. Ces clauses pondèrent d’un côté les intérêts légitimes commerciaux de l’entreprise au droit notamment de l’employé de gagner sa vie. Elles sont donc une exception à la règle de la libre concurrence et, afin … Continue reading

We all know what the new DOL salary numbers are, but what happens next?

Kimberly Cheeseman (US)Carolyn Webb (US)By Kimberly Cheeseman (US) and Carolyn Webb (US) on Posted in General, North America, United States
The US Department of Labor’s March 7, 2019 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reset the salary requirements for the Fair Labor Standards Act’s white-collar exemptions. By now we all know the new numbers: the minimum salary threshold will increase from US$455 per week (US$23,660 annually) to US$679 per week (US$35,308 annually) for the executive, administrative, professional, … Continue reading

Ontario Court of Appeal Decides Against Recognizing Tort of Harassment

Global Workplace InsiderBy Toronto E&L Group on Posted in Canada
On March 15, 2019, The Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision in Merrifield v. Canada (Attorney General), reversing a trial decision in which the Ontario Superior Court of Justice had recognized the existence of a common law “tort of harassment”. The plaintiff’s claim was based on conduct that he had experienced during his employment … Continue reading

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

Jennifer Lang-HodgeBy 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

Frédéric DesmaraisBy 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

Le projet de loi C‑86 reçoit la sanction royale : nouveaux congés, préavis plus longs, régime proactif d’équité salariale et plus encore

Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Le projet de loi C‑86, la Loi no 2 portant exécution de certaines dispositions du budget déposé au Parlement le 27 février 2018 et mettant en œuvre d’autres mesures (« projet de loi »), a reçu la sanction royale le 13 décembre 2018. Comme il a été mentionné dans nos publications précédentes sur les modifications apportées au Code canadien du travail … 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 GaliziaBy Patrick Galizia 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
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