A new report is urging the federal government to introduce new types of leave and make broad changes to employment insurance. The report, by the YWCA Canada and the Institute for Gender and the Economy at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, is advocating for an equity-informed economic recovery plan that will ensure gender and sexual […]
British Columbia’s ministry of labour is introducing a new online portal to help the government process applications for temporary layoff extensions more quickly. In late June, the province extended the time period for temporary layoffs related to the coronavirus pandemic to a maximum of 24 weeks — up from 16 previously — expiring Aug. 30, following calls from opposition parties […]
The federal government is for the second time extending its program to subsidize wages in companies hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, this time until at least December. But the government is being warned it may have to move the end date into 2021. The program is the heart of the Liberals’ promise to help […]
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that where one provision of a termination clause doesn’t meet minimum statutory requirements, it renders the entire clause unenforceable. In Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc., the court reversed a Superior Court of Justice ruling in favour of plaintiff Benjamin Waksdale’s former employer Swegon. Superior Court Justice Edward […]
The Supreme Court of Canada has cleared the way for Uber drivers to take the next step in their fight to be recognized as employees. In a ruling Friday, the high court upheld an Ontario Court of Appeal decision that opened the door to a possible class-action suit aimed at securing a minimum wage, vacation […]
The federal government is introducing new regulations to protect employees from harassment and violence in the workplace. The regulations, which take effect on Jan. 1, 2021, outline the necessary elements of a workplace harassment and violence prevention policy and the procedures employers are required to have in place to respond to any incidents. They apply to federally regulated […]
In June 2017, the federal government amended the Canadian Human Rights Act to strengthen protections against employment discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals, forbidding employers across all jurisdictions to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. While the protections and language used by organizations can vary, the intent of the protections is […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many complicated issues for employers. Prudent employers should ensure they’re aware of the resources that may be available during this uncertain time when information regarding government support is rapidly changing. Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy On March 30, the federal government announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, a program that will […]
Summers are big business for the Butlers. Samantha and her husband John are partners in a small photography and videography business, with the bulk of their work taking place during the summer wedding season. But this year will be different. “We’re facing about $30,000 of lost income,” she says. “And we’ve only lost weddings up […]
The federal government is introducing a 75 per cent wage subsidy for companies of any size, charities and non-profits that have seen at least a 30 per cent drop in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy applies to the first $58,700 of an employee’s earnings, up to $847 per week. The goal of […]