Resources
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Significant Changes to Workplace Legislation Expected in Alberta
June 2017
On May 24, 2017, the Alberta Legislature introduced Bill 17: Fair and Family–friendly Workplaces Act. The bill is part of the Government of Alberta’s effort to ensure that Albertans have “the same rights and protections enjoyed by other Canadians, and have fair and family-friendly workplace laws that support a strong economy and help businesses stay competitive.”
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Ontario’s Proposed Legislative Changes are About to Make Life a lot More Interesting for Employers
June 2017
Alberta is not the only province that is making significant changes to workplace legislation. Ontario has jumped on the bandwagon with legislation introduced at the end of May that impacts employers with both unionized and non-unionized workforces. These changes were made in response to a government-commissioned report that made 173 recommendations addressing precarious work.
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A Haphazard Sexual Harassment Investigation – What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
May 2017
Melissa Doyle, a well-educated woman who had worked with Zochem Inc. for nine years, supervised an all-male group of refinery workers. The workplace culture was dominated by the Maintenance Supervisor’s “male locker room” mentality. On his office walls were pictures of scantily clad women. He expected Ms. Doyle to act like “one of the boys”, by sharing details of her dating life, laughing at his lewd jokes and engaging in otherwise unwelcome sexual banter.
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Alberta Court of Appeal Overturns Contentious Bonus Award Because Employee Was Not Actively Employed On Vesting Date
May 2017
In Styles v. Alberta Investment Management Corporation, 2017 ABCA 1, the Alberta Court of Appeal (the “Court”) reversed a lower court decision that had awarded a dismissed employee, David Styles, almost $500,000 for an unpaid incentive bonus in spite of the fact he was disentitled to any bonus pursuant to the terms of his written employment contract.
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Can an Employer’s Unfavourable Reference Ground a Claim for Defamation?
May 2017
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently found an employee’s defamation claim against his previous employer for an unfavourable reference could not succeed, because the reference was justified and fell “within the range of qualified privilege”.
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Nobody Cares About Your (Unilateral) Life Plans: Lessons From the Great White North
April 2017
A recent decision of the Yukon Court of Appeal provides some valuable commentary about the role (or lack thereof) played by one’s personal plans in determining the appropriate length of notice for a dismissed employee.
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In the Right Context, “Revelation of Character”, Including After-Acquired Cause Dating Back Years, Can Warrant Summary Dismissal
April 2017
In Smith v. Pacific Coast Terminals Co., 2016 BCSC 1876, an employee was considered by his employer to have misled it regarding the necessary permits for a construction project. Although the employer viewed the misconduct to be serious, it decided to dismiss the employee without cause and offer him a severance package.
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Dishonesty is Not the Best Policy: Employees Have the Obligation to Always be Honest with Their Employer
April 2017
Dishonesty on the part of an employee casts a dark shadow on the employment relationship and may throw the ongoing viability of that relationship into serious question, especially if the dishonesty involves theft or is premeditated, intentional, or sustained over a period of time. In some industries and for specific jobs, honesty is of paramount importance and an employee’s dishonest conduct can result in summary termination of employment for just cause.
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Big News About Small Claims
March 2017
Civil Resolution Tribunal. As of June 1, 2017, with just a few exceptions, civil claims of up to $5,000 will no longer be heard and decided by the B.C. Provincial Court (Small Claims Court). Instead, they will be resolved through British Columbia’s new online tribunal, the Civil Resolution Tribunal. This will be mandatory.
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Be on the Lookout for the Bonus Pony: Without Careful Language, a Terminated Employee will be Able to Ride It Away into the Sunset
March 2017
A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision has once again highlighted the challenges associated with controlling bonus payments for terminated employees. In Paquette v. TeraGo Networks Inc. , 2016 ONCA 618, the Court awarded damages for a bonus falling within the notice period despite the fact that the bonus plan had specific language requiring “active employment” for any amount to be paid.
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