Tag archives: health and safety

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

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

Effectuer des enquêtes en milieu de travail… pendant une pandémie

By Taryn Mackie on November 19, 2020 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

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

By Jonathan Deschamps on November 13, 2020 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

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

By Stéphane Erickson and Ione Deda Alves on August 25, 2020 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

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

By Nandini Rao (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on June 12, 2020 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

Queensland’s first industrial manslaughter sentence

By Martin Osborne, Peta Willoughby and Amy Parry on June 12, 2020 Posted in Australia

Queensland’s first industrial manslaughter sentence was handed down yesterday by the Brisbane District Court for the death of a worker at an auto recycling yard in 2019.… Continue reading

From Suits to Sweatpants: Employer’s Obligations to Employees Working From Home

By Jennifer Lang-Hodge on May 5, 2020 Posted in Canada, Coronavirus

Due to COVID-19, many employers have been thrown head-first into working-from-home (WFM) arrangements for some, if not all, of their workforce. It is important that employers ensure they are meeting their obligations in these circumstances, including occupational health & safety (OHS) responsibilities and business cost reimbursement, in order to avoid liability. Health & Safety In … Continue reading

Coronavirus: what should AU employers be doing?

By Shannon Walker on February 3, 2020 Posted in Asia Pacific, Australia, Coronavirus

Australia, like many countries, is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. In order to meet their duty of care to workers, there are a number of steps employers should now be taking.… Continue reading