Tag archives: coronavirus

US: California employers must take measures to curb workplace spread of coronavirus under emergency CAL/OSHA rules

Photo of Josh Henderson (US)Photo of Jackie Karama (US)By Josh Henderson (US) and Jackie Karama (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, North America, United States
The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board has approved emergency, temporary COVID-19 regulations under California’s Occupational Safety & Health Act. California employers must now establish specific measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in nearly every workplace in California.  The emergency regulations, which the Standards Board approved on Thursday night by a unanimous vote, … Continue reading

Effectuer des enquêtes en milieu de travail… pendant une pandémie

Photo of Taryn MackieBy Taryn Mackie on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Cette année, les employeurs ont dû relever d’innombrables défis, notamment celui d’effectuer efficacement une enquête en milieu de travail alors que les protocoles de santé et sécurité exigent un certain degré de séparation. Heureusement, les règles de base pour les employeurs sont les mêmes, que ceux-ci effectuent une enquête en respectant une distance de deux … Continue reading

Conducting Workplace Investigations… in a Pandemic

Photo of Taryn MackieBy Taryn Mackie on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
This year has created innumerable challenges for employers— including the challenge of how to effectively conduct a workplace investigation when health and safety protocols demand a certain degree of separation. Fortunately, the same Do’s and Don’ts still apply to employers, whether they are conducting an investigation two meters apart or virtually through Zoom. Don’t (inexcusably) … Continue reading

Long-awaited relief for federally regulated employers: Layoff periods extended further

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
To give federally regulated employers more time to recall employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic, certain layoff periods under the Canada Labour Standards Regulations have (again) been temporarily extended as of November 9, 2020, as follows: Employee laid off before March 31, 2020 Three-month layoff: If an employee is laid off for a period of … Continue reading

Un soulagement très attendu pour les employeurs sous réglementation fédérale : nouvelle prolongation des périodes de mise à pied

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Dans le but de donner aux employeurs sous réglementation fédérale plus de temps pour rappeler les employés mis à pied en raison de la COVID-19, certaines périodes de mise à pied en vertu du Règlement du Canada sur les normes du travail ont (de nouveau) été temporairement prolongées, et ce, à compter du 9 novembre. … Continue reading

Contexte de pandémie : un arbitre se penche sur les droits et obligations des employeurs québécois en matière de télétravail

Photo of Jonathan DeschampsBy Jonathan Deschamps on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
Dans une très récente décision rendue le 26 octobre 2020[1], l’arbitre Me Jean-François La Forge (l’Arbitre) a rejeté la demande d’ordonnance de sauvegarde du Syndicat des fonctionnaires municipaux de Québec (le Syndicat) visant à forcer la Ville de Québec (la Ville) à favoriser le télétravail. Ce faisant, l’Arbitre a analysé les décrets récemment adoptés par … Continue reading

Chancellor announces amendments to the UK Job Support Scheme

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in Coronavirus, UK
As we announced in our blog post here on 24 September the UK Chancellor outlined additional government support to help businesses and workers impacted by COVID-19, which would come into force once the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) ends on 31 October 2020. However, with further restrictions being placed on businesses and the introduction of … Continue reading

Mise à jour sur les lignes directrices des Cours fédérales sur la COVID-19

Photo of Allyson Whyte NowakPhoto of Judith RobinsonPhoto of Brian R. DaleyBy Allyson Whyte Nowak, Judith Robinson and Brian R. Daley on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, General
La Cour d’appel fédérale (CAF) a fourni une mise à jour sur les lignes directrices concernant la reprise des audiences débutant le 1er septembre 2020 et a clarifié l’effet de la Loi sur les délais et autres périodes (COVID-19) fédérale concernant les délais quant au commencement et à la conduite des litiges à la CAF. Tant … Continue reading

Everyone Needs a Break Sometimes: Employer Rights and Obligations around Employee Vacation in British Columbia

Photo of Margaret McConnellBy Margaret McConnell on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
The COVID-19 pandemic has put much on hold, including many vacation plans. As travel remains restricted, some employees may be interested in postponing vacation until greater and safer options become available. However, employers that are continuing to experience slowed operations may prefer for employees to use up their vacation entitlement sooner rather than later. For … Continue reading

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

Photo of Stéphane EricksonPhoto of Ione Deda AlvesBy Stéphane Erickson and Ione Deda Alves on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Stéphane EricksonPhoto of Conrad FlaczykBy Stéphane Erickson and Conrad Flaczyk on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Natasha HyppoliteBy Natasha Hyppolite on 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. … Continue reading

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

Photo of Natasha HyppoliteBy Natasha Hyppolite on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Kevin Mayer (US)Photo of Jackie Karama (US)By Kevin Mayer (US) and Jackie Karama (US) on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Andrew SchaferBy Andrew Schafer on 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 … Continue reading

Quelques précisions sur les conséquences de la pandémie pour les employeurs au Canada : dispositions clés en matière de licenciement collectif

Photo of John MastorasPhoto of Natasha HyppolitePhoto of Ruoxi WangPhoto of Margaret McConnellPhoto of Stéphane EricksonBy John Mastoras, Natasha Hyppolite, Ruoxi Wang, Margaret McConnell and Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Alors que bon nombre d’employés regagnent progressivement leurs lieux de travail physiques ou leurs chantiers, il est encourageant de constater que les gouvernements ont amorcé la levée des restrictions imposées aux employeurs. En effet, près d’un million de personnes au Canada ont trouvé un emploi entre mai et juin. Cela dit, partout au pays, les … Continue reading

More on employer pandemic consequences in Canada: key “group” termination considerations

Photo of John MastorasPhoto of Ruoxi WangPhoto of Natasha HyppolitePhoto of Margaret McConnellPhoto of Stéphane EricksonBy John Mastoras, Ruoxi Wang, Natasha Hyppolite, Margaret McConnell and Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
As many employees gradually return to the physical workplace or jobsite, governments are encouragingly lifting restrictions on employers. Indeed, nearly one million people in Canada found jobs between May and June. Nonetheless, employers across the country are continually reassessing how to best position themselves for what remains an uncertain future. In some cases, the need … Continue reading

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

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Josh Henderson (US)Photo of Phillip Di Tullio (US)By Josh Henderson (US) and Phillip Di Tullio (US) on 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, … Continue reading

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

Photo of Dallan PoulinBy Dallan Poulin on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Jonathan DeschampsBy Jonathan Deschamps on 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 … Continue reading

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

Photo of Nandini Rao (US)Photo of Rachel Kurth (US)By Nandini Rao (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on 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 … Continue reading

For your consideration: Varying BC employment agreements amid pandemic

Photo of Piers FibigerBy Piers Fibiger on 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 … Continue reading
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