Latest news in Legal issues

Supreme Court to rule on how unionized workforces deal with human rights issues

Supreme Court to rule on how unionized workforces deal with human rights issues

The Supreme Court of Canada will hear an appeal on a Manitoba court case that could have implications for employers dealing with a human rights issue…

U.S. employers maintaining health benefits, considering other cost-cutting measures: survey

Coronavirus pandemic means ‘new normal’ for employers, employees

All Canadian employers should assume at least one employee will test positive for the coronavirus, said Dr. Wendy Smeltzer, medical director at virtual health-care company…

Survey shows strong support for flexible, remote working post-coronavirus

Employers moving to remote work to help ‘flatten the coronavirus curve’

Canadian politicians, public health officials and chief executive officers have all urged Canadians to practice social distancing in a bid to “flatten the curve” of…

Considerations around employee safety, privacy, leave during the coronavirus crisis

Considerations around employee safety, privacy, leave during the coronavirus crisis

As employers prepare to prevent against the spread of the coronavirus, issues of workplace and public safety will likely take precedent over privacy concerns. Employers…

Letters to the Editor: Alternative views on paramedical coverage

Since the point of an editorial is to create a discussion on the trends and issues affecting our industry, I was glad to see my…

  • By: Staff
  • March 13, 2020 December 3, 2020
  • 09:00
How are insurers working with plan sponsors amid coronavirus pandemic?

How are insurers working with plan sponsors amid coronavirus pandemic?

The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association has been conducting weekly calls with its members since mid-January to discuss issues around the ongoing coronavirus crisis,…

Animal rights group changes pension’s default fund after fracas with ethical vegan

Animal rights group changes pension’s default fund after fracas with ethical vegan

The League Against Cruel Sports is now acknowledging it dismissed an ethical vegan employee after he raised concerns over the organization’s pension plan. The employee, Jordi…

  • By: Staff
  • March 5, 2020 November 30, 2020
  • 09:00
Arbitration clause doesn’t offend employment standards legislation, rules B.C. court

Arbitration clause doesn’t offend employment standards legislation, rules B.C. court

The British Columbia Supreme Court has ruled that a clause in an employment agreement mandating arbitration as a way of resolving wrongful dismissal disputes doesn’t…

Arbitrability of LTD claims in Ontario’s hospital sector heading to Supreme Court

The issue of whether long-term disability claims are arbitrable or matters for the court, which has plagued Ontario’s hospital sector for over a quarter of…

Sun Life facing proposed LTD benefits class-action lawsuit

A former federal government employee is launching a proposed $10-million class action lawsuit against Sun Life over how the insurer calculated cost-of-living increases on long-term disability benefits…

How should Canadian employers be responding to the coronavirus?

How should Canadian employers be responding to the coronavirus?

With three confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada, 40 potential cases under investigation and the World Health Organization declaring the virus an international public…

A look at the legal risk for benefits plan sponsors

A look at the legal risk for benefits plan sponsors

With Canada’s population ageing and research and development looking to produce medications that are beneficial for this evolving demographic, drugs are becoming more expensive, according to Mitch…

Ethical veganism a philosophical belief, finds British tribunal in pension investment case

Ethical veganism a philosophical belief, finds British tribunal in pension investment case

On Friday, a judge in Norwich, U.K. ruled that ethical veganism qualifies as a philosophical belief under Britain’s Equality Act, in a pension-related case filed by ethical…

Top 10 legal stories of 2019

Top 10 legal stories of 2019

Popular legal cases in 2019 covered age discrimination, bankruptcy proceedings, constructive dismissals and a range of other topics. Benefits Canada rounds up the industry’s most popular legal stories of…

What pension legislation is expected in 2020?

What pension legislation is expected in 2020?

Pension plan stakeholders will see a continued evolution of both short- and long-term reform, with some significant developments expected in 2020. “Hopefully, Ontario will finalize…

Feds supporting PEI initiatives addressing workplace sexual harassment

The federal government is giving the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission and the Community Legal Information Association of PEI $1.7 million over five years for a…

  • By: Staff
  • December 13, 2019 December 3, 2020
  • 15:00

A third of women experience unwanted sexual behaviour at work: StatsCan

More than half of Canadians say they’ve witnessed at least one instance of inappropriate sexual behaviour at work, according to a new report by Statistics Canada. The…

B.C. tribunal finds reduced benefits for older workers not age discrimination

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint from a Molson Coors Beverage Co. retiree who alleged the company’s employee benefits plan was…

Saskatchewan adding extra weeks of parental leave

The Saskatchewan government is amending its provincial employment act to add eight additional weeks of parental leave. The additional weeks of leave will be available to…

  • By: Staff
  • December 3, 2019 December 3, 2020
  • 15:30

Union asks B.C. labour board to designate Uber, Lyft drivers as employees

The United Food and Commercial Workers Canada Local 1518 is waiting for a decision from the Labour Relations Board of British Columbia on its application to classify drivers…

  • By: Staff
  • December 2, 2019 December 3, 2020
  • 10:15
Ontario case could clear up questions on limitation periods in LTD claims

Ontario case could clear up questions on limitation periods in LTD claims

The Ontario Court of Appeal is poised to hear a case that could clear up the conflicting jurisprudence regarding the point at which limitation periods…

A look at medical cannabis coverage’s growing pains

A look at medical cannabis coverage’s growing pains

After the Arthritis Society’s extensive advocacy for medical cannabis research, it seemed only natural for the organization to cover the drug under its employee benefits…

Western Forest Products, union at impasse over LTD benefits, wages

Western Forest Products, union at impasse over LTD benefits, wages

Western Forest Products Inc. says negotiations with the United Steelworkers union representing workers in a long-running coastal B.C. strike ended without resolution on the weekend.…

Toronto Transit Commission settles benefits fraud lawsuit

The Toronto Transit Commission has settled a 2016 lawsuit against its insurer for the alleged failure to detect a benefits fraud scheme involving orthotics store Healthy Fit…

  • By: Staff
  • November 15, 2019 December 3, 2020
  • 09:15
Police warn of email scam using benefits, compensation messaging

Police warn of email scam using benefits, compensation messaging

Police in Kingston, Ont. are warning the public about a new email phishing scam that uses employee benefits enrolments and annual pay raises as bait. Posing…

  • By: Staff
  • November 8, 2019 November 12, 2020
  • 15:00