Topic: North America

L’obligation de se couvrir le visage au Québec : de nouvelles mesures annoncées

Lieux publics fermés

Depuis le 18 juillet dernier, le port d’un couvre-visage est obligatoire dans les lieux qui accueillent le public au Québec. Le couvre-visage comprend un masque ou un tissu bien ajusté qui couvre le nez et la bouche. Le décret n° 810-2020 (décret 810)[1] précise les lieux qui accueillent le public qui seront touchés au Québec.

Quels lieux sont touchés?

Il convient de noter que le terme « lieu qui accueille le public » comprend la partie accessible au public, dans la mesure où elle est fermée ou partiellement couverte et qu’il ne s’agit pas d’une unité … Continue Reading

Ontario employers, cover up! Mandatory face-covering orders now in effect in Toronto, Ottawa, and beyond

By Stéphane Erickson and Conrad Flaczyk on August 21, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

While Stage 3 allows many businesses in Ontario to reopen and to welcome returning employees back to the physical workplace, employers and service providers—as operators of enclosed public spaces and establishments—must meet certain recently announced conditions. As of July 7, 2020, at 12:01 a.m., these conditions now include the mandatory covering of the mouth, nose and chin for members of the public and employees in indoor public spaces in Ontario’s two largest municipalities, Toronto and Ottawa. On July 30, 2020, the Province of Ontario unveiled its plan for reopening schools in the 2020-2021 school year, which will require students … Continue Reading

Pandemic check: face covering requirements for federally regulated employers in Canada

By Natasha Hyppolite on August 17, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

In certain provinces, masks and face coverings have now or will soon become mandatory in certain indoor establishments accessible to the public, including in, or in parts of, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Recently, in Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia also announced that masks will be required as of July 31 in enclosed public places.

In the federal sphere, the Labour Program has not imposed mandatory face covering requirements in establishments operated by federally regulated employers and service providers. However, current public health guidance informs that face coverings can be an effective form of protection from the … Continue Reading

À savoir sur la pandémie : exigences en matière de couvre-visage pour les employeurs sous réglementation fédérale au Canada

By Natasha Hyppolite on August 17, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Dans certaines provinces, le port d’un masque et d’un couvre-visage est maintenant, ou sera bientôt, obligatoires dans certains établissements intérieurs accessibles au public, notamment en Ontario (en anglais seulement), au Québec, en Alberta et en Colombie-Britannique (en anglais seulement), ou dans certaines parties de ces provinces. Récemment, au Canada atlantique, la Nouvelle-Écosse a également annoncé que le port du masque sera exigé à partir du 31 juillet dans les lieux publics fermés.

Du côté du gouvernement fédéral, le Programme du travail n’a pas imposé de mesures obligatoires en matière de couvre-visage dans les établissements exploités par des employeurs et … Continue Reading

US: Virginia becomes first state to adopt COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard

By Kevin Mayer (US) and Jackie Karama (US) on August 12, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

On July 27, 2020, the first state “Emergency Temporary Standard” (ETS) for COVID-19 went into effect. The ETS requires employers in the state to develop and implement COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the workplace. The ETS is in effect for six months, although this period could be shortened if the Virginia State of Emergency expires, a permanent standard is enacted or the Virginia Safety and Health Codes Board repeals it.

Employers covered by the Emergency Temporary Standard

The ETS applies to all public and private employers and places of employment in Virginia, with the exception of federal employers, private … Continue Reading

Le privilège relatif au litige : une nouvelle exception au Québec visant les rapports obtenus à la suite de l’examen médical d’un travailleur

By Bourget-Rousseau Antoine and Ione Deda Alves on August 6, 2020 Posted in Canada, Québec

Le 7 mai 2020, le Tribunal administratif du travail (le TAT), dans l’affaire Gendarmerie Royale du Canada et De L’Étoile[1] (l’affaire De L’Étoile), rendait une décision très attendue sur l’application du privilège relatif au litige dans le cas du rapport d’un médecin expert choisi par un employeur afin d’évaluer la condition médicale d’un travailleur dans le cadre d’une contestation d’une lésion professionnelle.

Cette décision fait suite à un arrêt de la Cour d’appel rendu en juillet 2019, dans lequel la Cour renvoyait l’affaire au TAT pour que ce dernier se prononce sur la question de savoir si … Continue Reading

A reminder to BC employers: Family care obligations to accommodate family care needs amid pandemic

By Andrew Schafer on August 5, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Covid-19 has made working from home the new normal for many employees. This new reality has created challenges for employees who, due to the closure of schools, daycares and other social services, have had to serve as full-time caregivers in addition to carrying out their everyday work tasks. Under these circumstances, it is important for employers to understand their obligations for accommodating the family care needs of employees.

Family status accommodation during Covid-19

The issue of family status accommodation is not new. In past newsletters we have explored how various tribunals across Canada have come up with differing tests on … Continue Reading

US: Coming soon – New York State employers should prepare for paid sick leave law to take effect in September

By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on July 22, 2020 Posted in North America, United States

As part of the most recent New York State budget, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law a new mandatory paid sick leave program affecting all New York employers. Under the law, all New York employers will need to provide their employees with paid or unpaid sick leave (whether or not related to the COVID-19 pandemic) as follows:

For employers with 100 or more employees, up to 56 hours of paid sick leave per year must be provided to each employee.
For employers with between five and 99 employees, and for employers with fewer than five employees but with a net

Une grève illégale qui coûte cher : la faute d’omission d’un syndicat québécois le contraint à verser 9,9 millions $

By Jonathan Deschamps on July 21, 2020 Posted in Canada, Québec

Dans une décision rendue le 11 juin 2020[1], la Cour supérieure du Québec a accueilli en partie une action collective à l’encontre de la Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec – Construction (FTQ‑C). Cette action collective vise, à titre de membres du groupe, les travailleurs et les employeurs comptant moins de 50 salariés qui ont été privés de travail ou de salaire à la suite de débrayages illégaux survenus sur plusieurs chantiers de construction au Québec à l’automne 2011. Il est reproché à la FTQ-C d’avoir encouragé et incité les travailleurs à participer à ces … Continue Reading

CHRT paves the way for more efficient, adaptable Rules of Procedure in federal human rights sphere

By Stéphane Erickson and Denyse Boulet on July 20, 2020 Posted in Canada

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (Tribunal) has published a number of proposed changes (Proposed Changes) to the current Rules of Procedure (Rules). According to the Tribunal, the Proposed Changes will be published shortly in the Canada Gazette, Part I. However, some delays in publishing the Proposed Changes may occur due to COVID-19-related reasons.

What is the general intent of the Proposed Changes?

The Proposed Changes include the modernization of service and filing methods, and promote overall efficiency during proceedings. Specifically, the Proposed Changes are intended to provide parties with more efficient ways to bring and respond to complaints, and to … Continue Reading

Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne : Vers des Règles de pratique plus efficaces et plus souples

By Denyse Boulet and Stéphane Erickson on July 20, 2020 Posted in Canada

Le Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne (« Tribunal ») a publié les changements qu’il se propose d’apporter (« changements proposés ») à ses Règles de pratique actuelles (« règles »). Selon le Tribunal, les changements proposés seront bientôt publiés dans la Partie I de la Gazette du Canada. Toutefois, en raison de la COVID‑19, des retards sont à prévoir.

Quel est le but général visé par les changements proposés?

Ils portent notamment sur la modernisation des modes de signification et de dépôt et favorisent en général l’efficacité des procédures en offrant aux parties des façons plus efficaces … Continue Reading

Employeurs de l’Ontario : des décrets sur les masques obligatoires sont désormais en vigueur à Toronto et à Ottawa

By Stéphane Erickson on July 15, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

*La version actualisée du présent billet de blogue peut être consultée, en anglais, en cliquant ici.*

Alors que l’étape 2 permet aux entreprises de l’Ontario de rouvrir et d’accueillir les employés sur le lieu de travail physique, les employeurs et les fournisseurs de services doivent remplir certaines conditions qui ont été récemment annoncées. Depuis le 7 juillet 2020 à 0 h 1, cela inclut le port obligatoire d’un masque couvrant la bouche et le nez pour les membres du public et les employés dans les espaces publics intérieurs des deux plus grandes municipalités de l’Ontario, Toronto (en anglais … Continue Reading

US: California: San Francisco employees laid off due to COVID-19 may have reemployment rights under new ordinance

By Josh Henderson (US) and Phillip Di Tullio (US) on July 13, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, United States

On July 3, San Francisco’s new “Back to Work” emergency ordinance took effect, requiring employers to rehire certain employees laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when the employer seeks to fill the same position formerly held by the laid-off worker, or a substantially similar position. The ordinance will expire on September 2, 2020, but may continue if extended by the City of San Francisco. For more information on the requirements of this new ordinance creating special reemployment rights, see our legal update, With San Francisco’s Back to Work Ordinance now in effect, employees laid-off due to COVID-19 … Continue Reading

Say It Ain’t So, I Will Not Go: Responding to Employee Requests to Not Return to the Workplace in British Columbia

By Dallan Poulin on July 7, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Following the unveiling of BC’s Restart Plan, and as part of the province’s transition to the “new normal”, many British Columbian employers are welcoming their employees back to the traditional pre-pandemic workplace. However, given the current climate of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers will inevitably be met with requests from employees wishing to not return to the physical workplace for fear of contracting COVID-19. Some of these requests will be justified or reasonable but others will not, and this legitimacy will not always be immediately clear for the responding employer.

In order to determine whether a request not to report … Continue Reading

Nouveauté pour les employeurs québécois : Publication de la Charte d’engagement à combattre le coronavirus en milieu de travail

By Jonathan Deschamps on July 7, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec

La Commission des normes, de l’équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail (CNESST) a récemment publié en ligne la Charte d’engagement à combattre le coronavirus en milieu de travail (Charte). Celle-ci vise essentiellement à ce que les employeurs et les travailleurs coopèrent en matière de prévention pour diminuer les risques que pose la COVID-19 sur la santé et la sécurité en milieu de travail. Elle reconnaît l’importance de chaque acteur dans cet effort de prévention et souligne la nécessité de mettre en place des mesures concertées, fondées sur la protection des travailleurs.

À … Continue Reading

US: Return to work considerations for New York employers during COVID-19 pandemic

By Nandini Rao (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on June 12, 2020 Posted in North America, United States

Businesses with operations in New York State and, particularly, in New York City, face unique obstacles with respect to reopening their businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 380,000 confirmed cases across the state, and over 200,000 confirmed cases in New York City, most New York residents have been affected by the virus in some way, and many are apprehensive about reentering the workplace. New York City’s dense population of over 8 million residents and approximately 10 million commuters — many of whom rely on public transportation — undoubtedly exacerbates these concerns. In light of these concerns, Governor Cuomo extended … Continue Reading

For your consideration: Varying BC employment agreements amid pandemic

By Piers Fibiger on June 12, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

As employers prepare for the cautious reopening of the economy and the gradual return to the physical workplace, questions on altering the terms of an existing employment agreement could certainly arise for a number of legitimate reasons.

Specifically, employers often ask under what circumstances they can make changes to existing employment agreements. Commonly, employers face two important sub-questions in that regard. First, must employers obtain employee consent before making any changes to terms of employment? Second, must employers provide consideration for such changes to make them enforceable at law?

A recent decision from the British Columbia Court of … Continue Reading

Conseils de santé et sécurité pour les chantiers de construction en Ontario : Au-delà des masques et de la distanciation sociale

By Meghan Fougere and Lauren Ditschun on June 8, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Le 14 mai 2020, le premier ministre de l’Ontario a annoncé que certains lieux de travail pouvaient commencer à rouvrir puisque la première étape du cadre visant le déconfinement de la province avait reçu le feu vert. L’étape 1 comportait la levée des restrictions précédemment imposées aux activités et projets de construction.

Le mardi 19 mai 2020 à minuit une, la liste des lieux de travail essentiels a été modifiée afin de permettre la reprise des activités ou projets de construction et services connexes de soutien à ces activités ou projets, et tout le secteur s’est bel et bien remis … Continue Reading

Health and safety tips for Ontario’s construction job sites: masks, social distancing, and more

By Lauren Ditschun and Meghan Fougere on June 8, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Ontario’s Premier announced on May 14, 2020 that select workplaces could start reopening as stage 1 of the Framework for Reopening the Province was given the green light. As part of the first stage, the previous restrictions on certain construction projects and activities were lifted.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 12:01 am, the list of essential workplaces was amended to permit all construction activities, projects and related services that support construction projects to reopen and all of the industry has effectively been back online since then. Although some restrictions have lifted, it is certainly not business as usual and … Continue Reading

Fin des classes : Aide relative à la pandémie pour les étudiants, les jeunes et les employeurs

By Stéphane Erickson on May 20, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Plusieurs étudiants au Canada comptent sur les emplois d’été pour gagner un revenu entre les sessions d’études secondaires ou postsecondaires. Toutefois, il pourrait s’avérer difficile pour les étudiants qui terminent leurs cours en cette année scolaire de décrocher un emploi stable pendant la saison estivale.

Programme Emplois d’été Canada

Le programme Emplois d’été Canada (EEC) offre des contributions aux employeurs comptant moins de 50 employés afin qu’ils créent des emplois d’été de qualité pour les jeunes âgés de 15 à 30 ans qui sont légalement autorisés à travailler au Canada. La pandémie de COVID-19 a eu des répercussions tant sur … Continue Reading

School’s out for summer: Pandemic assistance for students, youth and employers

By Stéphane Erickson on May 20, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Many students in Canada rely on summer jobs to generate income between semesters of high school or post-secondary education. However, students completing their studies this academic year may find it challenging to secure steady employment during the summer months.

Canada Summer Jobs Program

The Canada Summer Jobs Program (CSJ) program provides subsidies to employers with less than 50 employees in order to create quality summer work experiences for youth aged 15 to 30 years, and who are legally entitled to work in Canada. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on both CSJ job-seekers and the employers that typically hire … Continue Reading

US: Return to work in an office environment: Employer considerations and best practices

By Barbara D'Aquila on May 19, 2020 Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States

Many businesses quickly shifted to remote work, where possible, and abandoned operations in an office setting when COVID-19 became a pandemic or when jurisdictions required or encouraged people to stay at home. Now, as these businesses contemplate resuming operations in the general office setting, they are grappling with a myriad of issues and concerns. See our article COVID-19: Best practice considerations for resuming work in an office setting for employer considerations for resuming work in the office setting, including advice on determining when to reopen, determining modifications to be made in the workplace, employee communication and training considerations, implementing the … Continue Reading