While right-to-disconnect legislation provides employees with a clear definition of their expected work hours, governments have to be careful they aren’t overly regulating because people have different ways of working productively, says Elaine Gringauz-Yedlin, chief operating officer of corporate benefits at Johnston Shaw Inc. “I have two young children and sometimes during the day I get […]
The average disqualifications from employment insurance fell from 86,000 to 44,000 after the federal government implemented improved qualification criteria in September 2020 to address rising unemployment caused by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new report from Statistics Canada. In response, Unifor is calling on the renewal of the government’s pandemic EI measures. “The report […]
An article on HSBC Bank Canada’s new benefits offerings was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. HSBC adding coverage for fertility treatments, surrogacy, gender affirmation 2. Employee placed on unpaid leave over mask refusal not entitled to reasonable notice: Alberta court 3. LifeWorks acquiring […]
Just because employers are transparent with their compensation philosophy or ranges, it doesn’t always mean they’re equitable in their compensation process, says Andrea Bartlett, director of people operations at Humi. Pay transparency is the disclosure of certain compensation details by businesses, while pay equity is a process that companies can use to close the compensation […]
An Alberta court has ruled that a Calgary grocery store worker placed on indefinite unpaid leave — for failure to comply with a mandatory mask policy — has resigned as opposed to being constructively dismissed and isn’t entitled to reasonable notice or compensation in lieu thereof. “This decision may signal that adjudicators will have little […]
When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it triggered a flurry of questions — and some confusion — from employers on how they could continue to provide abortion coverage in their health benefits plans while complying with various state laws, says Sarah Raaii, a lawyer and senior associate with McDermott Will & Emery […]
A bill that would amend U.S. labour law to establish a new classification for gig workers could also deny them the right to a minimum wage and other employment protections. The Worker Flexibility and Choice Act would change the Fair Labor Standards Act so ’employee’ doesn’t include anyone who’s entered into a worker-flexibility agreement, such […]
An article on Public Health Sudbury’s violation of the Ontario Human Rights Code following an employee’s termination over a vaccine refusal was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com over the last week. Here are the five most popular news stories of the week: 1. Arbitrator finds employer violated Ontario Human Rights Code for termination over vaccine refusal 2. More […]
An arbitrator has ruled Public Health Sudbury violated the Ontario Human Rights Code prohibition against discrimination on the basis of creed when it terminated a nurse who refused a coronavirus vaccination because it was against her religious beliefs. “The decision is significant because the arbitrator, Robert Herman, is well-respected and his reasoning will draw the […]
The Netherlands is making remote working a legal right for its citizens. On July 5, the Dutch bicameral parliament’s lower house passed legislation that forces employers to consider employee requests to work from home as long as their professions allow for it, according to a report by Bloomberg. If the legislation, which is set to go […]