Tag archives: Covid-19

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

Photo of Megda BelkacemiBy Megda Belkacemi on 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

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

Photo of Jennifer NaultBy Jennifer Nault on 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

UK: New guidance for employers on living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

Photo of Amanda Sanders (UK)By Amanda Sanders (UK) on Posted in Coronavirus, UK
On April 1st, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued guidance for employers on living safely and reducing the spread of respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 to replace the previous ‘Working Safely Guidance’ after the relaxing of COVID-19 measures in the UK. The guidance outlines ways employers can aim to reduce the spread of respiratory … Continue reading

Stricter COVID-19 rules at German workplaces

Photo of Frank WeberndörferPhoto of Claudia PosluschnyBy Frank Weberndörfer and Claudia Posluschny on Posted in Coronavirus, Data privacy and GDPR, Europe, Germany
In Germany the “Epidemic Situation of National Significance” ends on November 25, 2021.  As a result, the German legislature has amended several COVID-19 related laws, such as the German Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz – IfSG), in order to continue certain protective measures. The amended regulations (BT-Drs. 20/15 and BT-Drs. 20/78) aim to provide for a … 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

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

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

Employee’s receipt of CERB doesn’t change employer’s obligations

Photo of John SchudloBy John Schudlo on Posted in Canada, North America
The Ontario Superior Court recently held that a dismissed employee who received Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payments immediately following his dismissal should not receive less in wrongful dismissal damages on account of the fact he received the emergency benefit. The decision underscores the point that CERB does not affect an employer’s post-termination obligations. In … Continue reading

Télétravail obligatoire en contexte de pandémie : l’exception demeure les employés dont la présence est essentielle à la poursuite des activités de l’employeur

Photo of Megda BelkacemiBy Megda Belkacemi on Posted in Canada, North America, Québec
Dans une décision récente – Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique, section locale 1108 et CHU de Québec – Université Laval (grief syndical), 2021 QCTA 187 – l’arbitre Me Nathalie Faucher a rejeté la demande d’ordonnance de sauvegarde du Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (le Syndicat) visant à forcer le CHU de Québec (l’Employeur) … Continue reading

COVID-19: Mandatory testing in companies

Photo of Frank WeberndörferPhoto of Claudia PosluschnyBy Frank Weberndörfer and Claudia Posluschny on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, Germany
In view of worrying pandemic figures, the German Federal Government has amended the existing “SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance” (Corona-ArbSchV) (the Ordinance). Employers now face the additional obligation of offering COVID-19 testing to their employees, unless the employees work from home. Introduction of mandatory testing… Continue reading

Fausses déclarations sur le questionnaire des symptômes de la COVID 19 : peine capitale confirmée en arbitrage

Photo of Ione Deda AlvesBy Ione Deda Alves on Posted in Canada, Québec
Dans une décision rendue le 21 décembre 2020, l’une des premières en la matière au Québec, un arbitre confirme le congédiement d’une salariée pour avoir fait défaut de répondre honnêtement au questionnaire des symptômes de la COVID‑19 imposé par l’employeur au début de chaque journée de travail. Les faits de cette affaire L’employeur, une entreprise … Continue reading

Can South African employers require their employees to undergo mandatory vaccination and testing for COVID-19?

Photo of Jason WhyteBy Jason Whyte on Posted in South Africa
South Africa is now deeply within its second wave of COVID-19 infections which appears to be significantly more widespread than that which prevailed during early to mid-2020. Since then, and in response to the pandemic, global efforts have successfully developed both expedited means of testing for the virus and, more recently, vaccines. Employers may thus … Continue reading

L’accord national interprofessionnel du 26 novembre 2020 : « soft law » à la française

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Contracts, Coronavirus, Europe, France, General
Le télétravail s’est largement développé en France au fil des années, et naturellement, ce mode de travail a été particulièrement utilisé, bon gré mal gré, par les entreprises au cours de l’année 2020, à la faveur de la crise sanitaire, et des recommandations (plus ou moins liantes) du Gouvernement. Les bases du télétravail ont été … Continue reading

Can French employers require their employees to get the Covid-19 vaccine?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Coronavirus, Europe, France
Further to the approval by EU authorities of the vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer, and further to the recommendations of the French Health authorities on the vaccination programme, the French vaccine campaign against Covid-19 was launched yesterday, at the same time as in all EU countries. In France, the Government established a specific strategy … Continue reading

Can employers require their employees to get the Covid-19 vaccine?

Photo of Charlotte EmmersonBy Charlotte Emmerson on Posted in Coronavirus, Data privacy and GDPR, UK
With the announcement that one of the Covid-19 vaccines has received approval from the UK regulator, employers are now asking whether they can insist that employees are vaccinated before returning to the workplace. There are clearly legal and moral issues that need to be considered. Firstly, the anticipated Covid-19 vaccination programme in the UK will … Continue reading

California imposes new requirement of a COVID-19 Prevention Program

Photo of Josh Henderson (US)By Josh Henderson (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, United States
With the approval of Cal/OSHA’s new COVID-19 regulations, the proponents of action-taking won out over those who felt California’s existing laws, regulations, and enforcement arsenal were sufficient to meet the moment. It’s clear that California likes to lead—though it’s not the first state to enact specific COVID-19 standards (Virginia and Oregon got there first).… 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
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