This Fall, the Ministry of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure will be leading targeted audits of retail companies with 500 or more employees during a three-month blitz to ensure workplaces and employee practices are accessible and compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”). Among other things, audited employers will be asked to provide…
Insights
Hicks Morley publishes a number of materials, both electronic and print, on issue-specific and sector-specific topics of interest to our clients. Our insights section has links to all of our various publications, updates and blogs, both current and historical, to keep you informed of developments in the law that impact human resources.
FTR Now
ESA Provisions Imposing Shared Liability for Temporary Help Agencies and Their Clients Coming into Force
On November 20, 2015, amendments to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) which affect Ontario’s temporary help industry and its clients will come into force. The amendments were contained in Bill 18, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014, which we previously discussed in our FTR Now of July 21, 2014, Ontario Reintroduces Legislation…
Human Resources Legislative Update
Ontario Minimum Wage to Increase October 1, 2015
On October 1, 2015, the general minimum wage in Ontario will increase from $11.00 to $11.25 an hour. This minimum wage applies to most employees. Minimum wage rates for students, liquor servers, hunting and fishing guides and homeworkers will increase on the same date.
FTR Now
Federal Election 2015: Employers’ Obligation to Provide Paid Time Off to Vote
A federal election has been called for October 19, 2015. Under the Canada Elections Act (“Act“) all employees who are electors – Canadian citizens who are 18 years of age or older – are entitled to three (3) consecutive hours on election day during voting hours to cast their vote. In this FTR Now, we…
Case In Point
Arbitrator Upholds Discharge of Long Service Employee with Clean Record for Theft
In a recent arbitration decision involving a case of petty theft in the workplace, an arbitrator provided very useful guidance on workplace theft and the mitigating factors an employer should take into account in determining the penalty. The…
FTR Quarterly
2015 Fall Edition
FOCUS ON WSIB Workplace safety and insurance – hidden profile, high stakes LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS Bill 168 – Occupational health and safety five years later Developing an attendance management plan: what you need to know PROFILE David J. Bannon Download PDF
School Board Update
Arbitrators Consider Whether Statutory Freeze Applies to MOU Provisions
In an award dated July 30, 2015 [1] (“CSDCEO Award”), Arbitrator Rowan held that the 97-day delay in salary grid movement for teachers, imposed in various teacher collective agreements by a centrally agreed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”), was subject to the statutory freeze in the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “LRA”). Therefore, the provision could not…
Human Resources Legislative Update
Changes to Personal Health Information Privacy Legislation Introduced
On September 16, 2015, the Ontario government introduced Bill 119, Health Information Protection Act, 2015, which would amend the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (“PHIPA”) and repeal and replace the Quality of Care Information Protection Act, 2004 (“QCIPA”). With respect to PHIPA amendments, if passed Bill 119 would, among other things: require health custodians to…
Raising the Bar
Raising the Bar – Tenth Edition
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” Albert Camus Dear Readers, Welcome to Fall 2015! We are excited to bring you this latest edition of RTB as you get ready for the changing of the season. In this edition, we have a very interesting collection of decisions that you need to…
Case In Point
Court Awards Consultant 8 Months’ Notice for 2 Years of Service
A recent case demonstrates that despite an agreement characterizing the relationship as one involving an independent contractor, there is always the risk upon termination that the relationship may ultimately be found to require…