Significant amendments to the Employment Insurance Regulations have been filed and were published in the Canada Gazette on November 15, 2017 to implement the availability of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits for the care of critically ill adult family members and the option to extend parental leaves, initiatives outlined in the 2017 Federal Budget. The changes…
Business Operation: Canada
Check Your Holiday Party List – And Check It Twice: Tips for Ensuring a Safe Seasonal Workplace Event
With winter fast approaching, many of us are preparing for seasonal and holiday celebrations. Whether large or small, it is important that employers take proactive steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees who attend office parties or other celebrations. In this FTR Now, we are pleased to bring you our annual checklist of measures to consider implementing to help plan a safe holiday celebration for all.
Federal Government Introduces Legislation to Prevent Workplace Harassment and Violence
On November 7, 2017, the federal government tabled Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (harassment and violence), the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, which, if passed, will amend the Canada Labour Code with respect to the prevention of workplace harassment and violence…
Setting up Shop in Canada? What U.S. Employers Need to Know About Canadian Employment Law
While Canada and the United States are alike in many respects, there are a few key differences in employment law that U.S. employers should be aware of if you are considering buying, selling or operating a business in Canada.
FTR Quarterly – Issue 7
In This Issue Extended EI Benefits – Top 3 Ways Your Workplace Could be Affected FTRQ&A – Chronic Mental Stress Pension Plan Funding Reform: At the Precipice Pension, Benefits & Executive Compensation Featured Articles Extended EI Benefits – Top 3 Ways Your Workplace Could be Affected By: Henry Dinsdale A number of recent changes to the…
Changes to EI Benefits and Canada Labour Code Leaves to Take Effect on December 3, 2017
As previously reported, amendments to the Employment Insurance Act were passed by the federal government on June 22, 2017 when Bill C-44, Budget Bill Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1 received Royal Assent. These amendments have been proclaimed into force effective December 3, 2017. The changes to the employment insurance (EI) regime, among other things, allow…
Federal Government Introduces Changes to Canada Labour Code
On October 27, 2017, the federal government introduced Bill C-63, Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 2, its second budget implementation bill relating to Budget 2017. Budget implementation bills are a means for the government to follow through with the legislative changes required to bring budget commitments into effect. In addition to changes to the Income…
Is It Discriminatory to Include a Disability-Related Absence in an Attendance Management Policy? Appellate Court Weighs In
In Canada (Attorney General) v. Bodnar, the employer sought judicial review of a decision of the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board (Board) in which the Board held that the inclusion of disability-related absences and absences taken for the purposes of family caregiver leave in an attendance management policy was discriminatory. On judicial review,…
2018 EI Premium Rate, Maximum Insurable Earnings Set
The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (CEIC) has set the 2018 Employment Insurance (EI) premium rate at$1.66 per $100 of insurable earnings. This represents a 3 cent increase for employees over the 2017 rate, and 4 cents for employers who pay 1.4 times the employee rate. For Quebec residents covered under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan,…
Proposed Data Breach Regulations Under PIPEDA Published
On September 2, 2017, the federal government published the proposed regulatory text of the Breach of Security Safeguards Regulations (Regulations) made under the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Interested persons have been invited to make representations on the Regulations. As previously reported, amendments to the PIPEDA enacted by the Digital Privacy Act…