Latest news in Legal issues

Vegan contests firing after alerting colleagues to pension’s problematic investments

Vegan contests firing after alerting colleagues to pension’s problematic investments

An animal welfare charity is facing legal action from a former employee who says he was fired after raising concerns about the organization’s pension investments…

Recreational marijuana legalization raises new questions for employers

Recreational marijuana legalization raises new questions for employers

The recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada has brought up a lot of new questions for employers, according to one expert. “Now that we’re past…

Google walkout protests mishandled sexual harassment

Google walkout protests mishandled sexual harassment

Thousands of Google employees around the world briefly walked off the job Thursday to protest what they said was the technology giant’s mishandling of sexual…

Federal government publishes report on pay equity

Federal government publishes report on pay equity

The federal government has published its report on pay equity after consulting with some 40 stakeholders in moving forward with pay equity legislation. Drawing on the feedback of employer…

  • By: Staff
  • October 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:30
Ontario government unveils new labour standards bill

Ontario government unveils new labour standards bill

The Ontario government introduced a new act on Tuesday that, if passed, would repeal or change much of the employment laws established by the previous government in…

  • By: Staff
  • October 23, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 17:00
CFIB to offer tools, education for employers around legal pot

CFIB to offer tools, education for employers around legal pot

As Canada enters a new era of legalized recreational cannabis, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is offering tools and educational materials for employers and employees.…

  • By: Staff
  • October 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 16:00
What will happen to Ontario’s new employment legislation?

What will happen to Ontario’s new employment legislation?

Earlier this month, Ontario premier Doug Ford announced in the provincial legislature that he would be axing Bill 148, an assortment of changes to the Employment…

  • By: Ryan Murphy
  • October 12, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:15
Editorial

Editorial: To be blunt: It’s time to embrace the benefits of marijuana

Marijuana. Cannabis. Pot. Weed. Bud. Grass. Reefer. Kush. Mary Jane. Ganja. Doobie. Trees. No matter what you call it, marijuana is dominating the Canadian news…

Legal cases highlight issues around LTD coverage

Legal cases highlight issues around LTD coverage

Whether considering age eligibility or policy wording, recent rulings for employees in a pair of Ontario cases are reminders to employers to review their long-term…

Ontario court decision raises questions on employee settlements

Ontario court decision raises questions on employee settlements

A decision from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice suggests that even broadly worded releases won’t cover subsequent lawsuits against employers for “improper conduct” such…

Employer, employee disconnect still exists as cannabis legalization looms

Employer, employee disconnect still exists as cannabis legalization looms

With just one week to go before recreational cannabis is legalized, a disconnect still exists between employers and employees around policies and expectations, according to a…

  • By: Staff
  • October 10, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:19

$1.5M settlement for Muslim workers fired in prayer dispute

A large U.S. meatpacker has agreed to pay $1.5 million to 138 Somali-American Muslim workers who were fired from their jobs at a Colorado plant after…

Some McDonald’s workers vote to strike over sexual harassment

Some McDonald’s workers vote to strike over sexual harassment

Emboldened by the #MeToo movement, McDonald’s workers have voted to stage a one-day strike next week at restaurants in 10 cities in hopes of pressuring…

B.C. court decision highlights significance of termination notices

B.C. court decision highlights significance of termination notices

British Columbia’s Court of Appeal has upheld an award of five months’ notice for an employee with only 12 months of service who was terminated…

Lessons from a workplace harassment investigation gone wrong

Lessons from a workplace harassment investigation gone wrong

Just six months after a City of Calgary employee started her job as a tractor-trailer driver, everything started to go wrong. Her foreman and indirect…

Canadian labour standards not keeping up with changing workplaces, says government

Canadian labour standards not keeping up with changing workplaces, says government

The federal government has published its findings from nearly a year of consultations on federal labour standards with Canadian citizens, unions, labour organizations, employers, employer organizations…

  • By: Staff
  • August 31, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 08:15
Consider health benefits, workplace policies as legal cannabis approaches

Consider health benefits, workplace policies as legal cannabis approaches

On Oct. 17, 2018, it will be legal to purchase and consume recreational cannabis in Canada. In a recent survey of Mercer’s employer clients and Canadian employees, we found…

  • August 21, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 08:30
One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for legal pot: survey

One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for legal pot: survey

One-third of Canadian employers feel prepared for the impending legalization of cannabis, according to a new survey by Mercer Canada. The survey, which polled 366 Canadian…

  • By: Staff
  • August 16, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 10:23
Government launches consultation on workplace harassment, violence bill

Government launches consultation on workplace harassment, violence bill

With a bill before parliament aiming to amend the Canada Labour Code as it pertains to harassment and violence in federally regulated workplaces, the government is…

  • By: Staff
  • July 25, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
Court decision in IBM case clarifies enforcement of termination clauses

Court decision in IBM case clarifies enforcement of termination clauses

The long search for the perfect failsafe provision in employment agreement termination clauses may be over with the Ontario Court of Appeal’s recent decision in…

Canadian Group Insurance Brokers partners with online HR company

Canadian Group Insurance Brokers partners with online HR company

The Canadian Group Insurance Brokers is partnering with Vancouver-based ConnectsUs HR to provide its members with online human resources programs for its members’ clients. Members of the broker-focused group…

  • By: Staff
  • July 10, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 17:00
A roundup of benefits, HR and legal considerations around legalized marijuana

A roundup of benefits, HR and legal considerations around legalized marijuana

While the federal government has pushed forward the initial target date of July 1 for legalizing recreational cannabis to Oct. 17, employers will still be busy trying…

  • By: Staff
  • July 1, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 09:00
What to do when workplace harassers are members of the public?

What to do when workplace harassers are members of the public?

Although employers in Ontario have just as much obligation to address sexual and violent harassment from customers or members of the public as they do…

A pot primer for plan sponsors

A pot primer for plan sponsors

When it instituted random drug testing last year, the Toronto Transit Commission was eager to ensure its employees knew what it expected of them. To…

Canadian employers concerned about implications of cannabis legalization

Canadian employers concerned about implications of cannabis legalization

More than half (52 per cent) of Canadian employers said they’re concerned or very concerned about the implications of legalized marijuana on the workplace, according to a report by…

  • By: Staff
  • June 19, 2018 September 13, 2019
  • 15:30