Resources: Employment
-
Changes to the Workers Compensation Act Now in Effect
August 19, 2020
Bill 23, which introduces significant changes to the Workers Compensation Act (the “Act”), received royal assent on August 14, 2020. The Act contains 34 provisions including changes relating to compensation, assessment, and occupational health and safety matters. Bill 23 was tabled by Minister of Labour, Harry Bains, on July 14, 2020, and was previously discussed in our July 21,2020, update.
Read More +
Changes to the Workers Compensation Act Now in Effect -
B.C. Government Proposes Significant Changes to the Workers Compensation Act
July 21, 2020
On July 14, 2020, the Minister of Labour tabled Bill 23, Workers’ Compensation Amendment Act, 2020 which proposed a number of significant changes to the Workers Compensation Act, RSBC 2019, c. 1 (the “Act”). The Act itself was already revised significantly earlier this year in an organizational revision which primarily reorganized the provisions and made minor alterations to wording.
Read More +
B.C. Government Proposes Significant Changes to the Workers Compensation Act -
Refusal of Unsafe Work: Lessons Learned From SARS
July 6, 2020
As British Columbia moves from Phase 2 into Phase 3 of its Restart Plan, employees will increasingly be asked to return to work and resume work as before – subject of course to the requirements and recommendations of the government, public health authorities and WorkSafeBC.
Read More +
Refusal of Unsafe Work: Lessons Learned From SARS -
B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Reaffirms Requirements of Campbell River Test in Recent Family Status Discrimination Case
June 17, 2020
In Ziegler v. Pacific Blue Cross (No. 2), 2020 BCHRT 125, the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal dismissed a complaint made by a former employee claiming the employer had failed to accommodate her childcare needs. The case represents one of the first instances of the Tribunal applying the “Campbell River test” for discrimination in employment on the basis of family status following the confirmation of that test in Envirocon Environmental Services, ULC v. Suen, 2019 BCCA 46.
Read More +
B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Reaffirms Requirements of Campbell River Test in Recent Family Status Discrimination Case -
Sunset Clause Couldn’t Save Employee From Consequences
April 2020
In a recent B.C. case, Mission Hill Winery v. Service Employees International Union Local 2, Branch 300 (Crozier Grievance), [2019] B.C.C.A.A.A. No. 130 (Glass), Arbitrator Nicholas Glass upheld the discharge of an employee who made a major mistake – not once but twice — in spite of the presence of a sunset clause prohibiting consideration of disciplinary action within a particular timeframe.
Read More +
Sunset Clause Couldn’t Save Employee From Consequences -
COVID-19 Update – March 27, 2020
March 2020
On the morning of March 27, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a series of significant measures designed to help certain employers weather the storm of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Finance also published a Backgrounder, which provides further detail on certain of these measures. While many of the key details are pending (we understand that further details are set to be released between now and Monday, March 30, 2020), employers should be aware of these measures, and start to consider how these measures may impact their plans as they continue to navigate these challenging times.
Read More +
COVID-19 Update – March 27, 2020 -
COVID-19 Update – March 26, 2020 – Federal Bulletin
March 2020
This bulletin addresses the new COVID-19 leave of absence of up to 16 weeks’ duration that is now included in the Canada Labour Code. The leave is available to employees of federally regulated employers who are unable or unavailable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. There may be additional changes of interest to you in the amendments but a high-level summary of the new leave is set out below.
Read More +
COVID-19 Update – March 26, 2020 – Federal Bulletin -
COVID-19 Update – March 25, 2020
March 2020
On the morning of March 25, 2020, the first wave of federal COVID-19 legislation, An Act respecting certain measures in response to COVID-19 (the “COVID-19 Act”) was passed by the Senate and received Royal Assent. This omnibus legislation provides for a number of legislative changes that will impact employers and employees.
Read More +
COVID-19 Update – March 25, 2020 -
COVID-19 Update – March 24, 2020
March 2020
On March 23, 2020, the B.C. Legislature passed amendments to the B.C. Employment Standards Act, and last week, WorkSafeBC published a series of recommendations to employers and employees navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This memorandum addresses these, and other, recent developments that will be of significance to employers operating in B.C. and elsewhere.
Read More +
COVID-19 Update – March 24, 2020 -
COVID-19 Update – March 19, 2020
March 2020
The purpose of this March 19, 2020 bulletin is to provide additional COVID-19 information to employers regarding Employment Insurance benefits, the federal stimulus package of $82 billion, and new provincial job-protected leaves of absence.
Read More +
COVID-19 Update – March 19, 2020