Tag: Employment law

American Horror Story: Hotel—Gaga for this deliciously terrifying workplace

The latest installment of American Horror Story was off to a screaming start with the premiere of Hotel. If you missed it, proceed with caution as this article contains some minor spoilers on the first episode. This season is set in a sprawling art deco hotel that manages to be both beautiful and frightening at the same […]

New penalties in Canada’s temporary foreign worker regime

by Isabelle Dongier Last year, Canada’s federal government introduced changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The changes were intended to encourage employers to put more effort into hiring Canadian workers by making it more difficult and expensive for them to hire temporary foreign workers. The changes have done just that. Adding to that […]

Moving toward the latest trend in office design? Don’t forget legal concerns

Office workers want to be comfortable and productive at work, and they all have different ideas on how to accomplish that goal. Some want to sit. Others want to stand. Some want privacy for focused work. Others want open space for collaborative work. Still others want comfy-cozy nooks where they can curl up with a […]

EEOC ‘cause’ finding may be harmful but doesn’t mean an automatic loss

by Deanna L. Forbush Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigations typically end when the EEOC issues a notice of dismissal and right-to-sue letter granting the charging party 90 days to file a lawsuit under one or more of the federal statutes the agency enforces—Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination […]

#damonsplaining — Matt Damon can do it, but you can’t

Actor Matt Damon sure has had an up and down past few weeks. First, Damon made some questionable comments on HBO’s Project Greenlight, a documentary developed by Damon himself (along with some famous friends including buddy Ben Affleck) focusing on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film. When African-American producer Effie […]

Project manager convicted of criminal negligence

by Norm Keith and Shane D. Todd As another reminder of the importance of health and safety in all workplaces all across Canada, we report on the continuing legal saga involving the December 2009 fatalities at Metron Construction. On June 26, 2015, Vadim Kazenelson, the project manager overseeing a construction project for Metron, was found […]

Risky business to muzzle employee claiming harassment

When an employee complains to the human resources department that she’s the victim of sexual harassment, the proper course of action for the employer is to investigate the complaint. But once the investigation is complete and no evidence is found to support the accusation, it’s time to move on. Unfortunately, even the most thorough investigation […]

NLRB puts employees on the spot

by Burton J. Fishman In a ruling that could make workplace investigations at unionized facilities all but impossible, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) reversed a 37-year-old precedent that protected employees from retaliation.    Under the prior Anheuser-Busch standard, employers did not have to hand over witness statements, particularly from employees, to unions in discipline cases. […]

The Cardinal Way

I’m a St. Louis Cardinal lifer so, for most Major League baseball fans out there, you probably assume I’m insufferable. (You may be right.) Still, don’t look for me to apologize that we’re in first place, have been for pretty much the entire season, and boast the best record in baseball. The postseason is upon […]

Employers required to give employees time off to vote

By Stefan Kimpton It’s almost election day in Canada. On October 19, Canadians will head to the polls to elect the new federal government. Employers with employees in Canada should be aware of their obligations on election day.