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.
Covid-19
Grève et télétravail : une interprétation large et libérale de la notion d’« établissement »

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

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…
Amtrak Suspends its Vaccination Mandate Amidst Challenge by Railway Union Workers

In October 2021, Amtrak introduced a companywide COVID-19 vaccine mandate to comply with President Biden’s executive order requiring vaccinations for all federal employees (the “Executive Order”). Amtrak believed it needed to comply with the Executive Order because it receives public subsidies.
Stricter COVID-19 rules at German workplaces


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 flexible approach to providing a safe and hygienic workplace depending on different regional or sector-specific infection metrics as well as the vaccination status of the workforce. Employers will have to comply with the regulations at least until March 19, 2022.
COVID-19 Safety Plans vs. Communicable Disease Plans: Have you Caught the Differences?

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…
Retrait préventif : la COVID-19 ne constitue pas un contaminant au sens de la LSST
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…
Returning to the Workplace – Government Guidance for a Covid-safe working environment from July 19

The UK Government announced that it would be lifting many of the restrictions that applied from 19 July and entering into what it terms Step 4 of its roadmap. Part of Step 4 is that the government is no longer instructing people to work from home if they can and so employers can start to…
Germany: Relief for COVID-19 occupational health and safety


Declining infection figures and progress in the COVID-19 vaccination programme has prompted the German Federal Government to adapt the “SARS-CoV-2 Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance” (Corona-ArbSchV) (the Ordinance). The new regulations will come into force on July 1, 2021.
US: Labor Department Sets Occupational Safety & Health Meeting

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…