Resources: Labour
-
Arbitrator Allows Religious-Based Exemption From Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy
April 11, 2023
In the recent case of B.C. Rapid Transit Co. v. Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 7000 (Morzhakov Grievance), [2022] B.C.C.A.A.A. No. 114 (Noonan), Arbitrator Randall Noonan held that an employer violated an employee’s rights under the B.C. Human Rights Code when it refused to grant a religious accommodation in relation to its COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy.
Read More +
Arbitrator Allows Religious-Based Exemption From Covid-19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy -
British Columbia Passes Legislation Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a Statutory Holiday
March 28, 2023
On March 9, 2023, Bill 2, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Act, received royal assent. Bill 2 recognizes National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (“NDTR”) on September 30 of each year as a statutory holiday.
Read More +
British Columbia Passes Legislation Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a Statutory Holiday -
Failure to Launch: A Cautionary Tale for Employers Arising from Chu v. China Southern Airlines Co. (c.o.b. China Southern Airlines), 2023 BCSC 21
February 8, 2023
The British Columbia Supreme Court recently issued a scathing decision that serves as a warning to all employers about what not to do when purporting to terminate an employee for just cause.
Overall, the employer’s actions attracted $150,000 in aggravated, punitive and bad faith damages, approximately three times the value of the wrongful dismissal damages (i.e. severance) awarded.
Read More +
Failure to Launch: A Cautionary Tale for Employers Arising from Chu v. China Southern Airlines Co. (c.o.b. China Southern Airlines), 2023 BCSC 21 -
Spotlight on Section 64 – Group Terminations
February 3, 2023
On January 6 and 9 2023, two unrelated decisions were released dealing with s. 64 (Group Terminations) of the BC Employment Standards Act (“ESA”).
The first was a decision from the BC Supreme Court, which addressed an argument that a termination clause in the employment agreement of a non-union employee was unenforceable because it did not refer to the group notice requirements of s. 64.
Read More +
Spotlight on Section 64 – Group Terminations -
Significant Changes Coming in 2023 for BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
December 6, 2022
The Provincial government has recently confirmed the latest in a series of long-anticipated and significant changes to BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“FIPPA”). As of February 1, 2023, two new sections of FIPPA and associated regulations will come into force.
Read More +
Significant Changes Coming in 2023 for BC’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act -
Lessons from Selling Sunset, Part Three: Workplace Relationships
December 5, 2022
What better way to end our three-part series on employment law lessons learned from watching Netflix’s Selling Sunset than to talk about romantic relationships in the workplace. As always, there are spoilers ahead.
Read More +
Lessons from Selling Sunset, Part Three: Workplace Relationships -
‘Tis the Season to Avoid Folly: Treats and Tidbits for a Successful Christmas or Holiday Party
November 28, 2022
Employers that organize and host Christmas or holiday parties and similar work-related social events have a number of legal responsibilities. They can be held liable for not taking adequate precautions to protect their employees from foreseeable and preventable harm.
Read More +
‘Tis the Season to Avoid Folly: Treats and Tidbits for a Successful Christmas or Holiday Party -
Sex and Family Status Discrimination Substantiated by Employer’s Preference for Replacement Employee
November 23, 2022
In LaFleche v. NLFD Auto Ltd. dba Prince George Ford (No. 2), 2022 BCHRT 88, the BC Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) awarded $78,625 to a complainant after finding that she suffered a work-related disadvantage because she was pregnant.
Read More +
Sex and Family Status Discrimination Substantiated by Employer’s Preference for Replacement Employee -
Arbitrator Confirms Precautionary Approach Appropriate in Times of Scientific Uncertainty
October 26, 2022
On July 11, 2022, Arbitrator Randy Noonan released his decision in Coca Cola Canada Bottling Inc. -and- Teamsters Local 213, B.C.C.A.A.A. No. 69 (Noonan). It concerned the reasonableness of Coca Cola’s mandatory vaccination policy (the “Vaccination Policy”). Although the policy is a national one, the dispute before the arbitrator related to the unionized hourly employees working out of four sites in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia.
Read More +
Arbitrator Confirms Precautionary Approach Appropriate in Times of Scientific Uncertainty -
Calculating Damages for Unjustly Dismissed Federally Regulated Employee
October 17, 2022
The Canada Labour Code is a unique creature. Unlike non-union provincially regulated employees in most Canadian jurisdictions, federally regulated employees who have more than 12 months’ service and who are not managers, are protected from without cause termination in most circumstances. How then to calculate an entitlement to damages for an employee who is unjustly dismissed in contravention of the Code, given the breach of that added protection?
Read More +
Calculating Damages for Unjustly Dismissed Federally Regulated Employee