Tag archives: human rights

As the complaints pile up, the Tribunal presses pause: New BC emergency directive puts pause on applications to dismiss

Photo of Jennifer Lang-HodgeBy Jennifer Lang-Hodge on Posted in Canada
Due to unprecedented delays at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal resulting from a barrage of COVID-19-related complaints, the Tribunal has introduced a new directive placing an emergency pause on new applications to dismiss. This emergency directive is a significant measure as an application to dismiss is an important part of the human rights process … 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

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

Entre l’obligation d’accommodement et milieu de travail sécuritaire : un équilibre difficile à atteindre pour les employeurs à l’ère du cannabis médical

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson and Antoine Gagnon on Posted in Canada, Québec
Le 17 octobre prochain marquera le deuxième anniversaire de la légalisation du cannabis récréatif au Canada. Bien que cette réalité fasse maintenant partie de notre quotidien, différentes questions liées à la consommation de cette substance demeurent, notamment en matière d’emploi. L’une d’entre elles a récemment été abordée par la Cour d’appel de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador[1] et peut … Continue reading

Discrimination dans un processus d’embauche ou exigence professionnelle justifiée : la Cour d’appel rappelle les principes applicables

Photo of Bourget-Rousseau AntoineBy Bourget-Rousseau Antoine on Posted in Canada, Québec
Au Québec, la Charte des droits et libertés de la personne[1] (la Charte) interdit notamment aux employeurs, dans le cadre de leurs processus d’embauche, d’exercer de la discrimination en se fondant sur le handicap des candidats. Cette interdiction de discriminer dans l’embauche comporte toutefois une exception importante : l’exigence professionnelle justifiée. L’article 20 de la Charte … Continue reading

Employés qui s’absentent en raison de la pandémie : le gouvernement du Québec adopte des protections additionnelles

Photo of Éric LallierPhoto of Emmanuelle BoilardBy Éric Lallier and Emmanuelle Boilard on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
Le 9 septembre dernier, le gouvernement du Québec a adopté le nouveau décret 943-2020 (le Décret), lequel, comme l’a confirmé le ministre du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale dans une annonce gouvernementale communiquée à cet égard le même jour, vise notamment à protéger le lien d’emploi des employés devant s’absenter du travail … 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

CHRT paves the way for more efficient, adaptable Rules of Procedure in federal human rights sphere

Photo of Stéphane EricksonPhoto of Denyse BouletBy Stéphane Erickson and Denyse Boulet on Posted in Canada
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (Tribunal) has published a number of proposed changes (Proposed Changes) to the current Rules of Procedure (Rules). According to the Tribunal, the Proposed Changes will be published shortly in the Canada Gazette, Part I.  However, some delays in publishing the Proposed Changes may occur due to COVID-19-related reasons. What is … Continue reading

Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne : Vers des Règles de pratique plus efficaces et plus souples

Photo of Denyse BouletPhoto of Stéphane EricksonBy Denyse Boulet and Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Le Tribunal canadien des droits de la personne (« Tribunal ») a publié les changements qu’il se propose d’apporter (« changements proposés ») à ses Règles de pratique actuelles (« règles »). Selon le Tribunal, les changements proposés seront bientôt publiés dans la Partie I de la Gazette du Canada. Toutefois, en raison de la COVID‑19, des retards sont à prévoir. … Continue reading

Les droits religieux et le port des équipements de protection

Photo of Marie-Krystel OuelletBy Marie-Krystel Ouellet on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
En cette période de pandémie, certains employeurs envisageront l’adoption d’une politique concernant l’utilisation des équipements de protection individuelle, tels que la blouse, les gants, le masque ou encore la protection faciale. L’adoption d’une telle politique peut, pour certaines personnes, avoir pour effet d’opposer leurs droits religieux et leur propre santé et sécurité ou celles des … Continue reading

Religious rights and wearing protective equipment

Photo of Marie-Krystel OuelletBy Marie-Krystel Ouellet on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus, Québec
During this pandemic, certain employers will consider adopting a policy on using personal protective equipment, such as gowns, gloves, masks or even facial protection. For certain people, adopting such a policy may have the effect of encroaching on their religious rights and protecting their own health and safety or that of other workers. In such … Continue reading

Easter & Passover 2020: Pandemic reminders for employers

Photo of Natasha HyppoliteBy Natasha Hyppolite on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Good Friday marks the start of the Easter long weekend in Canada. Undoubtedly, this year, festivities will be observed differently. Due to COVID-19, large gatherings are currently prohibited and most private and public places of recreation are closed, including places of worship. Employers must continue to navigate these trying times, holiday or not. Below, we … Continue reading

Pandemic Q&As: Walking off the job, limitation periods, symptomatic employees and human rights considerations

Photo of Rika SawatskyPhoto of John MastorasBy Rika Sawatsky and John Mastoras on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
In this blog post, we provide answers to the following four questions posed by Ontario employers: Can my employees walk off the job for fear of contracting COVID-19? Do I still need to meet my filing deadlines? One of my employees reported having COVID-19 after reporting to work for several days—what do I do? Is … Continue reading

Foire aux questions sur la pandémie : Quitter le travail, délais de prescription, employés symptomatiques et questions de droits de la personne

Photo of Rika SawatskyPhoto of John MastorasBy Rika Sawatsky and John Mastoras on Posted in Canada, Coronavirus
Dans cet article de blogue, nous répondons aux quatre questions suivantes que se posent les employeurs ontariens : Mes employés peuvent-ils quitter leur travail par crainte de contracter la COVID-19? Dois-je toujours respecter mes échéances de dépôt? L’un de mes employés a déclaré être atteint de la COVID-19 après s’être présenté au travail pendant plusieurs jours … Continue reading

BC Court of Appeal affirms BC approach to “family status” discrimination cases

Photo of Jennifer Lang-HodgeBy Jennifer Lang-Hodge on Posted in Canada
The British Columbia Court of Appeal (the “BCCA”) recently issued an important decision about family status discrimination. In Envirocon Environmental Services, ULC v. Suen (“Envirocon”), a unanimous BCCA affirmed the existing legal test for adverse discrimination on the ground of family status under the BC Human Rights Code (the “Code”). For BC employers, this is a welcome … Continue reading

New York State and New York City employers face new compliance requirements

Photo of David Gallai (US)Photo of Rachel Kurth (US)By David Gallai (US) and Rachel Kurth (US) on Posted in North America, United States
Recently, New York State and New York City have continued the trend of enacting employee-friendly legislation and issuing broad enforcement guidance under their respective employment laws and regulations.  New York State and New York City employers should be aware of the following recent developments from 2018 and early 2019, and should take action to review … Continue reading

The beginning of a revolution (by the French lower courts) ?

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Contracts, Europe, France
French President Emmanuel Macron implemented a significant reform of the French employment code in late 2017, with the intention of providing employers greater flexibility and predictability in managing labour relations. One of the most controversial measures was the creation of a grid applicable to the amount of indemnities due to employees for unfair dismissal, setting … Continue reading

Bill C-86 Receives Royal Assent: New Leaves, Greater Notices, Proactive Pay Equity & More

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Bill C-86, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 27, 2018 and other measures (the “Bill”), received Royal Assent on December 13, 2018. As noted in our previous publications on the Bill’s amendments to the Canada Labour Code (the “Code”) and the introduction of the new (proactive) … Continue reading

Dismissal for misconduct cannot be based (solely) on anonymous reports

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Contracts, Discrimination and harassment, Europe, France, Whistleblowing
Anonymous reports have been mistrusted for a number of years in France, for historical reasons. While anonymity enables individuals to raise their voice more openly, without being the targets of retaliation measures, it can also drift into slander. This explains a specificity of French law under which whistleblowers using ethicals lines are strongly encouraged to … Continue reading

Employees’ freedom of speech on the Internet is not without boundaries

Global Workplace InsiderBy Elodie Grangier on Posted in Europe, France
Books, hotels, restaurants, products: you can find reviews and rating websites for just about everything on the internet – even employers. However, employees posting internet reviews of their employer should be careful and measured in what they say, or risk being subjected to disciplinary measures  – or even dismissal – if they abuse their freedom … Continue reading

Employeurs sous réglementation fédérale : préparez-vous, l’équité salariale proactive s’en vient

Photo of Stéphane EricksonBy Stéphane Erickson on Posted in Canada
Plus tôt cette année, nous avons appris que le gouvernement fédéral allait de l’avant avec sa promesse de renouveler le régime fédéral d’équité salariale  À ce jour, le gouvernement fédéral n’a pas présenté de loi. Cependant, dans le Budget de 2018, le gouvernement a promis un régime fédéral d’équité salariale proactif concordant avec celui de … Continue reading

Will Artificial Intelligence Need Human Rights Training ?

Photo of John MastorasBy John Mastoras on Posted in Canada, Discrimination and harassment
The Financial Post interviews Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s patent and trademark lawyer Maya Medeiros on Artificial Intelligence’s discriminatory biases. Despite all of the advances in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), experts reveal that these technologies are not immune from some of the less-than-admirable tendencies which afflict humans. As recently reported by the Financial … Continue reading
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