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Compliance framework is proposed for Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program

by Thora Sigurdson In June 2014, the Canadian government introduced changes to the country’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). These changes were intended to make it more difficult and expensive for Canadian employers to hire temporary foreign workers (TFWs), thereby encouraging employers to search within Canadian borders to staff their workforce. While the changes to […]

More human rights ‘frustrations’

by David G. Wong Traditionally, when an employee’s absenteeism was excessive and there was no reasonable prospect of  returning to work in the foreseeable future—as long as there was no contractual term providing otherwise—a Canadian employer could discharge the employee for non-culpable absenteeism or treat the employment contract as having been frustrated. This would bring […]

Maine’s minimum wage law change going into effect January 1

by Matthew Jacobson Changes to the Maine minimum wage law taking effect January 1 mean that the minimum wage for tipped workers will continue to be $5 an hour instead of rising $1 an hour like the minimum wage for workers who don’t receive tips. Maine voters approved Question 4 on the 2016 ballot. The […]

Healthcare workers’ longer hours don’t necessarily increase health, safety risks

by Rosalind H. Cooper Most employers know that there are restrictions under employment standards legislation regarding maximum hours of work for their employees. In certain circumstances, it is possible to exceed these daily or weekly maximums. However, care must be exercised when doing so in order to avoid a breach of the employer’s duties under […]

Hot List: Bestselling Business Books on Amazon.com

Amazon.com updates its list of bestselling business books hourly. Here is a snapshot of what books were hot this morning — Monday, December 4. 1. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. The neo-liberal economic policies—privatization, free trade, slashed social spending—that the Chicago School and the economist Milton Friedman have foisted […]

New Jersey social media privacy law takes effect December 1

by David K. Reid Employers need to be ready for New Jersey’s new social media privacy law, which takes effect December 1. The law prohibits employers from requiring applicants and employees to disclose their user names and passwords for personal social media accounts or otherwise provide access to their accounts. The law doesn’t apply to […]

The Critical Step Harried Hiring Managers Leave Out

“I need this job filled, and I want it posted today!” No surprise that managers who are short an employee want a new hire instantly, but that’s a dangerous approach. Slow down, step back, and figure out what you are looking for. In their eagerness to start interviewing, many managers launch their search before they […]

Must-Know Facts about Employment Contracts in Canada

McCarthy Tetrault Q. When does an employer have an employment contract with its employees? A. Every employer in Canada has an employment contract, whether written or unwritten, with each of its nonunion employees. Sometimes, only some of the terms are in writing. When necessary, courts will imply reasonable terms in the absence of any express […]

Cafeteria Plans Can Help Employers Avoid Pay-or-Play Penalties

Employer contributions to a Section 125 cafeteria plan can be deducted from the employee’s cost of a health plan for purposes of determining the affordability of coverage, final IRS rules on minimum essential coverage published on Nov. 26 (79 Fed. Reg. 70464) stipulate. In order to be deducted, the café plan benefit must not be […]