Paid leave from work is the first financial line of defence during a crisis preventing employees from coming to work. For one, it guards against the complexities of having to navigate employment insurance, according to a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. But as the effects of the coronavirus ripple across the […]
Ontario and Alberta are making changes to provincial employment legislation to protect workers who are affected by the coronavirus. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton proposed amendments to the Employment Standards Act that would provide job-protected leave to employees who are in isolation or quarantine, as well as to those […]
As employers prepare to prevent against the spread of the coronavirus, issues of workplace and public safety will likely take precedent over privacy concerns. Employers have duties under provincial occupational health and safety laws to take all reasonable precautions to protect workers, communicate information about potential hazards and train employees on how to deal with […]
With coronavirus fears escalating, employers are adjusting their leave policies while labour groups are urging governments to reconsider paid leave provisions. This week, Walmart Inc. introduced an emergency leave policy for its U.S. employees. The retailer said hourly staff who work in a store, club, office or distribution centre will receive up to two weeks […]
IKEA Canada is giving wellness days to its employees to support their work-life balance. The wellness days, introduced in January, can be used for when employees have personal needs, such as appointments, illnesses or injuries, taking care of a family member, dealing with personal emergencies, volunteering at or taking part in a community event, weather-related events, […]
British Columbia is tabling legislation that would grant up to five days of paid leave for workers affected by domestic or sexual violence. The leave would also apply to parents of a child or dependant who has been impacted by that type of violence. The legislation would amend the provincial Employment Standards Act, which last […]
Employees at the Canada Revenue Agency, represented by the Union of Taxation Employees, are set to hold strike votes throughout February as negotiations continue on wages and issues pertaining to work-life balance. While the union’s demands are numerous, Marc Brière, its national president, says it’s been too long since employees have seen any improvement in their working conditions. In terms […]
As this winter’s flu outbreak intensifies, small U.S. business owners are trying to keep their companies from being overwhelmed by employee absences. At Gold Medal Wine Club in Santa Barbara, Calif., any surfaces people are likely to touch, including the coffee machine, water dispenser and door knobs, are wiped down and there’s hand sanitizer on […]
The union representing Saskatoon Public Library workers has ratified a tentative collective agreement that involves improved leave provisions and wage increases. The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2669 has been in bargaining with the union since the last contract expired on Dec. 31, 2016. The new contract, covering 270 library workers at nine branches, will expire […]
In 2018, 25 per cent of Canadians, or 7.8 million people, aged 15 and older provided care to a family member or friend with a long-term health condition, a physical or mental disability or problems related to aging, according to data published this week by Statistics Canada. This compares to 8.1 million people, or 28 […]