Germany is extending maternity protection for women to include those who have suffered a miscarriage after they’ve entered the 13th week of pregnancy, according to a report by Deutsche Welle. Germany’s lower house of parliament passed the law last week, with a majority of lawmakers voting in favour of the bill. If passed in the […]
While Newfoundland and Labrador employees who take three or more consecutive days of sick leave are no longer required to provide their employer with a doctor’s note, it doesn’t mean employers can’t demand evidence of illness or injury, says Tim Young, a St. John’s-based partner at Curtis Dawe Lawyers. “All the legislation does is eliminate […]
A total of 200 U.K. employers, representing more than 5,000 employees, have signed up for a permanent four-day workweek with no loss of pay, according to a report by the Guardian. It noted the majority of employers that have permanently adopted a shorter workweek are in sectors such as marketing, advertising and public relations (30), […]
Hybrid working is losing ground in North America as 60 per cent of employees returned to the office or job site in 2024, up eight per cent from 2023, according to a new report by ADP Canada. The report, which surveyed nearly 38,000 workers across 34 markets, found among Canadian respondents, the percentage of onsite […]
The U.S. Defense Department will no longer reimburse service members for travel out of state to get reproductive health care, including abortions and fertility treatments, according to a new memo. The directive eliminates a rarely used Biden administration policy enacted in October 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and more states began […]
Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code are simplifying workplace violence and harassment prevention requirements for employers, says Cristina Wendel, an Edmonton-based employment lawyer at Dentons Canada LLP. The amendments, which take effect March 31, include a requirement for employers to develop and implement a consolidated violence and harassment prevention plan. The plan must […]
The union representing roughly 435 employees at Ivaco Rolling Mills in eastern Ontario has ratified two five-year collective agreements that include pension and benefits gains. The agreements include pension improvements to the defined contribution pension plan, with pension contributions beginning earlier upon completion of probation and employer matches of up to four per cent for […]
An article on the Benefits Alliance’s 2025 priorities was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this past week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the last week: 1. Pharmacare, access to virtual health care among priorities for Benefits Alliance in 2025 2. Costco defends its diversity policies as other U.S. companies […]
The Alberta Investment Management Corp. has laid off 19 employees and cut their positions, including the role of running its diversity, equity and inclusion program. An AIMCo spokesperson said in an email Tuesday that despite the job cuts, the company remains committed to an equitable and inclusive workplace. Read: Alberta government fires AIMCo CEO, board, […]
Costco Wholesale Corp. is pushing back on a shareholder proposal that urges the wholesale club operator to conduct an evaluation of any business risks posed by its diversity, equity and inclusion practices. The National Center for Public Policy Research, a conservative think tank based in Washington, submitted the proposal, arguing that Costco’s DEI initiatives hold […]