Topic: North America

When responding to a union’s request for information, employers should look before they leap

By Kevin MacNeill on August 16, 2022 Posted in United States

A recent National Labor Relations Board decision, General Aire Systems, Inc. (371 NLRB No. 120), reminds employers of some pitfalls they may face when handling a union’s request for information, and steps that may be taken to minimize associated legal risks. By way of background, when a union has a collective bargaining relationship with an … Continue reading

La constitutionnalité de la vaccination obligatoire imposée aux employés du secteur du transport maritime, ferroviaire et aérien sous juridiction fédérale

By Megda Belkacemi on August 15, 2022 Posted in Canada, Québec

Dans la décision Syndicat des métallos, section locale 2008 et al. c. Procureur général du Canada et al.[1], la Cour supérieure s’est prononcée sur la constitutionnalité de certains arrêtés du ministre des Transports du Canada ordonnant notamment la vaccination obligatoire des employés du secteur du transport maritime, ferroviaire et aérien sous juridiction fédérale. Il s’agit … Continue reading

New York State bill raises the stakes for employer safety liability: lifts caps on restitution and imposes significant fines for workplace deaths and injuries

By Kevin MacNeill and Preston Brasch on July 27, 2022 Posted in United States

A New York State bill, “Carlos’ Law”, is currently before Governor Hochul for signing, after having been passed both by the Senate and Assembly. The bill’s Sponsor Memo states that its purpose is “to protect workers from corporations and their agents that fail to comply with safety protocols. . .” and recalls that more than … Continue reading

Attirer ou conserver ses employés avec la mise en place de nouveaux avantages sociaux : attention aux obligations fiscales

By Xavier Hamel on July 4, 2022 Posted in Québec

La pénurie de main d’œuvre que connaît le Québec depuis quelques années force les employeurs à user d’imagination afin d’offrir à leurs employés des avantages sociaux leur permettant d’être attrayants vis-à-vis la concurrence. Cependant, ces avantages octroyés aux employés ne doivent pas être considérés comme étant seulement une dépense d’entreprise. Effectivement, dans la plupart des … Continue reading

Global Employment Law – Work from Anywhere: Leadership Challenges – Transforming Workplace -#17

By Jason Noakes on June 28, 2022 Posted in Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, General, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Luxembourg, Middle East, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, The Netherlands, UK, United States, Venezuela

This is the 17th paper in our Transforming Workplace series. In our earlier article, we explored why employees’ expectations of their leaders have changed and why organisations need to upgrade leaders’ skills and behaviours. In this paper we now examine ow organisations can upskill their leaders to meet the specific leadership challenges arising from ‘work … Continue reading

Nouveaux changements aux programmes d’immigration pour pallier la pénurie de main d’œuvre

By Christine Beltempo on June 6, 2022 Posted in Canada, Québec

En avril dernier, Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (« IRCC ») faisait l’annonce de plusieurs mesures pour aider les employeurs à remédier à la problématique croissante de pénurie de main d’œuvre. Afin d’aider les employeurs à retenir les travailleurs temporaires au Canada, IRCC a mis en place les modifications suivantes au Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires (« PTET ») : … Continue reading

Global Employment Law – Work from Anywhere: The end of the office? – Transforming Workplace – #16

This is the 16th paper in our Transforming Workplace series. In our previous paper, we discussed how to make ‘work from anywhere’ work better. In this paper we now examine whether the day of the office, as we know it, has ended Work from Anywhere: The end of the office? – Transforming Workplace – #16 This … Continue reading

Global Employment Law- Work From Anywhere: Make it work better – Transforming Workplace -#15

This is the 15th paper in our Transforming Workplace series. In this paper we examine how ‘work from anywhere’ can be made to work better. Work From Anywhere: Make it work better -Transforming Workplace – #15 This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the opportunities, challenges and risk of the transforming … Continue reading

Grève et télétravail : une interprétation large et libérale de la notion d’« établissement »

By Jennifer Nault on May 17, 2022 Posted in Canada, Québec

Le 23 mars dernier, dans la décision Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs de la Coop Lanaudière CSN c. Coop Novago, 2022 QCTAT 1324 (« Coop Novago »), le Tribunal administratif du travail (le « Tribunal ») a conclu que l’employeur ne peut, en ayant recours au télétravail, contourner les dispositions anti-briseurs de grève. Le contexte La Coop Novago, l’employeur, … Continue reading

New Requirements for New York Employers Engaged in Electronic Monitoring to Come Into Effect May 7, 2022

By Nandini Rao (US) and Kevin MacNeill on April 27, 2022 Posted in United States

A new law, which amends the New York Civil Rights Law, will require New York employers to provide notice before monitoring employee electronic communications. The amendment takes effect on May 7, 2022. What does the new law require for employers? The new law requires that New York employers fulfill three requirements before electronically monitoring their … Continue reading

Décision de la Cour d’appel : la compétence exclusive de l’arbitre de griefs s’étend-elle aux formulaires pré-embauche?

By Jennifer Nault on April 27, 2022 Posted in Canada, Québec

Le 23 mars dernier, dans l’arrêt Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse c. Commission scolaire de Montréal, 2022 QCCA 398, la Cour d’appel du Québec a déterminé que la légalité de l’utilisation d’un formulaire médical pré-embauche par un employeur est une question qui relève de la juridiction exclusive de … Continue reading

Global Employment Law – The Decline (and Fall?) of the Five-Day Workweek – Transforming Workplace -#14

By Jason Noakes on April 19, 2022 Posted in Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, General, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Luxembourg, Middle East, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, The Netherlands, UK, United States, Venezuela

In our previous article in the Transforming Workplace series we outlined the benefits of short-term “work from anywhere”. In this article, we focus on the advantages of introducing flexible hours and days. The Decline (and Fall?) of the Five-Day Workweek This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the opportunities, … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Work From Anywhere: Short Term – Transforming Workplace -#13

In our previous articles in the Transforming Workplace series we examined the challenges of “work from anywhere”. In this article, we consider the best options for introducing “work from anywhere” on a short-term basis in your organisation. Work from Anywhere: Short-Term This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the opportunities, … Continue reading

The Disappearing Employee: Five Tips for Dealing with Circumstances of Potential Job Abandonment

By Margaret McConnell on April 11, 2022 Posted in Canada, General

Picture this: an employee is absent from work without explanation or authorization – it may be a sudden absence of a few days or, perhaps, the employee has failed to return from a leave of absence or vacation. Can an employer treat the employment relationship as at an end on the basis of job abandonment? … Continue reading

Modifications en vigueur le 6 avril 2022 en matière de santé et de sécurité du travail

By Carl Trudeau on April 8, 2022 Posted in Canada, Québec

Modifications en vigueur le 6 avril 2022 en matière de santé et de sécurité du travail Le 6 octobre 2021, la Loi modernisant le régime de santé et de sécurité du travail[1] (ci‑après, la « LMRSST ») a reçu la sanction royale. Rappelons que cette loi prévoit une réforme majeure des lois québécoises en matière de santé … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Work From Anywhere: Benefits & Challenges – Transforming Workplace -#12

In our previous article in the Transforming Workplace series we examined the hybrid model of work. In this article we discuss the benefits and challenges of “work from anywhere”, including on a hybrid work mode. Work From Anywhere: Benefits & Challenges This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the opportunities, … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Work from anywhere: Hybrid model – Transforming Workplace -#11

Our previous articles in the Transforming Workplace series discussed some of the important issues relating to the worldwide trend of working from anywhere. In this article we examine the hybrid workplace, where employees combine some level of “work from anywhere” with some time attending their worksite. Work from anywhere: Hybrid model This article is part … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Work from anywhere: Does it suit everyone?- Transforming Workplace – #10

We considered the growth in the number of employees ‘working from anywhere’ in our previous articles in the Transforming Workplace series. In this article we focus on suitability – does “work from anywhere” suit all jobs, all countries, and all employees? Work from anywhere: Does it suit everyone? This article is part of our Transforming … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Work from anywhere: Does location matter? – Transforming Workplace – #9

Our previous article in our Transforming Workplace series noted that “work from home” becomes “work from anywhere” when employees home to a more remote location further away from their pre-pandemic worksite. This article looks at some of the issues the change in location can have ifworkers “work from anywhere”. Work from anywhere: Does location matter? … Continue reading

Global Employment Law : Work from home becomes work from anywhere – Transforming Workplace -#8

This article in our Transforming Workplace series is the first in a series examining employees “working from anywhere” – an important issue facing organisations worldwide. Work from home becomes work from anywhere This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the opportunities, challenges and risk of the transforming workplace can be … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Leadership Reimagined -Transforming Workplace – #7

In the previous article in our series “Transforming Workplace” we considered the challenges to the employer’s organisational culture that will result from changed employee expectations and from modernising your Employee Value Proposition. In this article we look at how these enhancements to your organisational culture will challenge the capability and style of your leadership team. … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: How the Gig Economy is reshaping labour markets

On 24 March 2022, Maartje Govaert, Global Head of Employment and Labour, joined the panel for the JP Morgan virtual Global ESG Conference, discussing “How the Gig Economy is reshaping labour markets: Exploring ESG Risks and Opportunities”. Below is a summary of some of the points raised by Maartje in the discussion. What is the … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Organisational Culture Reimagined – Transforming Workplace #6

In the series of Transforming Workplace articles we have explored some significant changes to the external and internal environments in which an organisation operates. In this article we look at how modernising your Employee Value Proposition will present challenges to your organisational culture. Organisational Culture Reimagined This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. … Continue reading

Global Employment Law: Update and Modernise Your Employee Value Proposition Transforming Workplace #5

Asking your employees what they want and need (see our previous Transforming Workplace paper) is a vital part of updating your organisation’s Employee Value Proposition (EVP). In this article we explain more about your EVP. Update and Modernise Your Employee Value Proposition. This article is part of our Transforming Workplace series. Other articles exploring the … Continue reading