Topic: North America

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Au Canada, les employeurs peuvent-ils exiger que leurs employés aient reçu une dose de rappel?

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
L’accessibilité à la dose de rappel s’accroît – non seulement au Canada, mais à l’échelle mondiale également. Au Royaume-Uni, des doses de rappel (ou troisièmes doses) sont offertes depuis peu à la population générale de 50 ans et plus. En France et aux États-Unis, l’âge minimal généralement requis est plutôt fixé à 65 ans. Au Canada, le … Continue reading

Clauses de licenciement en Ontario : pourquoi l’intention commune des parties pourrait bien sauver la mise

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Quand vient le temps d’évaluer le caractère exécutoire d’une clause de licenciement concernant des employés avertis en Ontario, l’intention compte. Dans une récente affaire, Rahman v Cannon Design Architecture[1], la Cour a jugé que la clause de licenciement était exécutoire, en partie parce que la preuve avait établi que, pendant les négociations entre l’employeur et … Continue reading

Ontario termination clauses: Why mutual intent may save the day

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
When it comes to assessing the enforceability of a termination clause for sophisticated employees in Ontario, intent matters. In a recent case, Rahman v Cannon Design Architecture[1], the court found the termination clause enforceable in part because the evidence established that, during contract negotiations between the employer and sophisticated employee, there was a mutual intent … Continue reading

La Cour d’appel tranche : pas de délai-congé pour un employé qui a entièrement mitigé ses dommages

Photo of Andréanne BrosseauBy Andréanne Brosseau on Posted in Canada, Québec
Les faits de cette affaire Après plus de 17 ans à l’emploi d’une compagnie de transport de marchandises lourdes, dont cinq en tant que directeur général, un employé est congédié sans préavis ni explication autre qu’une alléguée « incompatibilité ». Ce congédiement intervient dans une période économiquement précaire pour l’entreprise. Une fois congédié, l’ancien directeur a dû … Continue reading

Ontario Proposes Right to Disconnect and Ban on Non-Competes

Global Workplace InsiderPhoto of Katherine PrusinkiewiczBy Heather Cameron and Katherine Prusinkiewicz on Posted in Canada, North America
The Ontario government has proposed legislative amendments to require companies to establish a ‘right to disconnect’ policy for their employees and to ban non-competition provisions in employment agreements. If enacted, this legislation would be a first in Canada. The proposed amendments to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 include the following: ‘Right to disconnect’: companies … Continue reading

Nouvelles directives de codage des relevés d’emploi pour les refus de vaccination COVID-19

Photo of Josh HoffmanBy Josh Hoffman on Posted in Canada, North America, Québec
Les employeurs canadiens devraient savoir qu’Emploi et Développement Social Canada (“ESDC“) a publié de nouvelles directives sur le codage des Relevés d’Emploi (“RE“) pour les employés dont l’emploi prend fin après avoir refusé de se conformer à une politique de vaccination obligatoire en milieu de travail. Le régime d’assurance-emploi (“AE“) du Canada offre un soutien temporaire du … Continue reading

New Record of Employment Coding Guidance for COVID-19 Vaccination Refusals

Photo of Josh HoffmanBy Josh Hoffman on Posted in Canada, General, North America
Canadian employers should be aware that Employment and Social Development Canada (“ESDC”) issued new guidance on coding of Records of Employment (“ROE”) for employees whose employment ends after failing to comply with a mandatory vaccination policy in the workplace. Canada’s Employment Insurance (“EI”) regime provides temporary income support to unemployed workers. Employees are not eligible … Continue reading

Federal Pay Equity Update

Global Workplace InsiderBy Jordan Kirkness on Posted in Canada, General, North America
We would like to remind federally-regulated employers that they are generally required to post a notice informing their employees of their obligations under the Pay Equity Act by November 1, 2021. The government has published a template notice and guidance here. Key things to keep in mind include: Employers can draft their own notice or … Continue reading

Gestionnaire du syndicat UES 800 condamné à neuf mois de prison pour avoir fraudé son employeur pour 225 000 $

Photo of Andréane GiguèreBy Andréane Giguère on Posted in Canada, Québec
Avez-vous les mécanismes en place au sein de votre entreprise pour prévenir et identifier promptement d’éventuels actes frauduleux de la part de vos employés? Les faits de l’affaire R. c. Aldik, rendu en août dernier par lequel la Cour du Québec (le Jugement), nous rappelle l’importance de s’attarder à la question et de ne surtout … Continue reading

Speculation in Human Rights Claims – A Recent Decision

Photo of Herb IsherwoodBy Herb Isherwood on Posted in Canada, Discrimination and harassment, North America
One of the challenging circumstances often facing an employer is having to make a tough decision (e.g. termination) with respect to an employee who is known to have a protected characteristic under human rights law. Whether the employee is elderly, has a disability, is gay, or has another protected characteristic, the concern is that the … Continue reading

COVID-19 Safety Plans vs. Communicable Disease Plans: Have you Caught the Differences?

Photo of Taryn MackieBy Taryn Mackie and Alex Farrant on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, North America
On July 1, 2021, British Columbia enthusiastically took the next step in its four-step COVID-19 Restart Plan. The transition to Step 3 brought several changes, including the transition for employers to move away from the previously required COVID-19 Safety Plan to the now required Communicable Disease Plan (“CDP”). WorkSafeBC has published detailed guidance for employers … Continue reading

Retrait préventif : la COVID-19 ne constitue pas un contaminant au sens de la LSST

Photo of Geneviève Lay (CA)Photo of Megda BelkacemiBy Geneviève Lay (CA) and Megda Belkacemi on Posted in Canada, North America, Québec
Dans une affaire récente – Piché et Entreprises Y. Bouchard & Fils inc. – le Tribunal administratif du Travail (Tribunal) a rejeté la demande de retrait préventif d’un travailleur en vertu de l’article 32 de la Loi sur la santé et la sécurité du travail (LSST) car il considère que la COVID-19 ne constitue pas … Continue reading

Ontario Divisional Court expands statutory severance pay threshold

Photo of Salma GilaniBy Salma Gilani on Posted in Canada, North America
In Hawkes v. Max Aicher (North America) Limited, the Ontario Divisional Court held that the calculation of an employer’s payroll for the purposes of determining its severance pay obligations under the Ontario  Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) must include its payroll outside of Ontario and Canada. Background The employee was employed by Max Aicher (North … Continue reading

La Fête nationale et la Fête du Canada : quelles obligations ont les employeurs?

Photo of Geneviève Lay (CA)By Geneviève Lay (CA) on Posted in Canada, North America, Québec
L’approche de la période estivale rime avec l’arrivée des vacances annuelles, mais aussi l’enchaînement de deux jours fériés en l’espace de 8 jours. La Fête nationale (le 24 juin – jour de la St-Jean Baptiste) et la Fête du Canada (le 1er juillet) tombent cette année toutes les deux un jeudi. Afin de dissiper les … Continue reading

US: New HERO Act Imposes Significant Obligations on New York Employers

Photo of Rachel Kurth (US)By Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States
New York State employers should be aware of a recent law aimed at protecting workers from COVID-19 and other airborne infectious diseases, the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (HERO Act), which imposes significant obligations on covered employers.  Among other things, the HERO Act requires the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to … Continue reading

US: OSHA Issues COVID-19 Workplace Safety Rule

Photo of Rachel Kurth (US)By Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States
On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a mandatory workplace safety rule requiring employers to take specified steps to protect workers from COVID-19.  However, the rule applies only to health care settings.  Referred to as an emergency temporary standard (ETS), the rule exempts fully vaccinated workers from masking, distancing, and … Continue reading

US: Labor Department Sets Occupational Safety & Health Meeting

Photo of Kevin Mayer (US)By Kevin Mayer (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States
The National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health will conduct a virtual meeting on June 22, 2021, to address current workplace issues and its prior work.  The details are set forth in today’s U.S. Department of Labor announcement.  The DOL and federal OSHA have been shifting priorities since the initiation of the Biden Administration, … Continue reading

US: Cal/OSHA publishes new standard that causes confusion for California employers

Photo of Josh Henderson (US)Photo of Kevin Mayer (US)By Josh Henderson (US) and Kevin Mayer (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States
On May 28, 2021, the employer community got its first glimpse of a revised Cal/OSHA emergency, temporary standard (ETS) for COVID-19 that may become law by June 15, 2021. That day—June 15—is significant because it is the date the governor set as a goal for California to “fully open its economy.” In addition, the CDC’s … Continue reading

US: OSHA Notices HazCom Hearing

Photo of Kevin Mayer (US)By Kevin Mayer (US) on Posted in General, North America, United States
We reported previously on federal OSHA’s efforts to revise and update various provisions of the Hazard Communication Standard in order to pursue greater workplace safety.  On May 20, 2021, OSHA announced an informal public hearing commencing on September 21, 2021 for the purpose of entertaining stakeholder comments and recommendations.  For more information, please see this … Continue reading

COVID-19 vaccination leaves : which provinces require employers to provide paid time off?

Photo of Geneviève Lay (CA)Photo of Conrad FlaczykBy Geneviève Lay (CA) and Conrad Flaczyk on Posted in Canada, North America
Vaccination efforts across the country have ramped up significantly. A number of provinces have recently amended existing legislation to allow employees paid time off to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. We provide you with a brief summary of these legislative amendments. Province Legislation Paid Time Off Other Relevant Information British Columbia s. 52.13 of the Employment … Continue reading
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