COVID-19 and the workplace – what’s next?
On March 10 BC announced significant changes to public health orders. It includes the repeal of the BC indoor mask order along with eased restrictions on long-term care visitors, faith gatherings and…
The Reality of Implementing a Paid Sick Leave
This week Dr Bonnie Henry, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, advised employers to develop business contingency plans that account for as much as 1/3 of their workforce to be off sick in the…
Workplace Vaccine Mandates Around the World
As vaccination mandates in Canadian workplaces become more prevalent for both federally and provincially regulated sectors in Canada, we thought it would be interesting to learn how other countries and jurisdictions are…
Making the Move From COVID-19 to Communicable Diseases Prevention
There have been several comments made in various zoom conversations over the last month about how great it has been to have experienced fewer colds and flus over the course of the…
New regulations concerning harassment and violence in the workplace
On January 1, 2021 new regulations concerning harassment and violence in the workplace came into effect as part of the Canada Labour Code. These regulations primarily impact employees who are in the…
When to investigate
A common question we receive from employers centres around the duty to investigate. Not unlike the duty to inquire, the employer’s duty to investigate a workplace complaint is spelled out in many provinces by their respective health and safety legislation and through human rights tribunals.
Why you should make Diversity a top priority for your organization
There are many reasons why organizations choose to become more diverse and inclusive. For many, it’s an intuitive feeling, often articulated as “the right thing to do”, but more and more evidence makes it clear that there are also significant business reasons for why an organization might choose to
Family Status Accommodation in the Age of COVID
After a few months working remotely, many teams have now adapted to the status quo of working from home. In fact, in light of the continued uncertainty around COVID-19, many organizations that…
Temperature Checks – Balancing Privacy and Employee Safety
It comes as no surprise to anyone to hear that employers have an obligation to provide a safe workplace for employees. But meeting that obligation has become increasingly complicated in recent months…
May 19: COVID-19 Update for Employers
On May 15th the Prime Minister announced that the CEWS will continue past its original end-date in June and will now be extended to August 29, 2020. The CEWS provides employers with up to 75% wage subsidy, up to a maximum of $847 per employee, per week.