Employers can avoid paying some incentives after termination

08. February 2022 0
Employers often want to avoid paying bonuses or other incentive payments to employees after they are terminated. The best way to achieve this is to consider the problem in advance and create a proper written employment agreement and written bonus plan/incentive policy.  In late 2020, the Supreme Court of Canada released an important decision in Matthews ...

An employee’s right to disconnect after hours

02. February 2022 0
This month, Ontario became the first Canadian jurisdiction to require many employers to create a policy relating to an employee’s right to disconnect after hours. This “right” is often understood as the right of an employee not to be expected to engage in business activity outside of working hours (e.g. answering work calls or emails).  ...

Paid sick leave in BC – key questions answered

01. February 2022 0
Further to our blog post of November 25, 2021 regarding upcoming amendments to the Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) to introduce paid sick leave in BC (you can read it here), as of January 1, 2022 employers in BC are required to provide 5 days of paid sick leave to their employees.   Here are some ...

5 days of paid sick leave required in BC in 2022

25. November 2021 0
On November 24, the BC government announced details of its plan to require employers in BC to permanently provide paid sick days for their employees. Specifically, the BC Employment Standards Act (the “ESA”) will be amended to require that employers allow employees to take 5 paid sick days per year. The amendments will take effect ...

Dr. Henry provides notice to healthcare workers that more vaccine mandates will be coming

27. October 2021 0
We published a post on our blog on October 26, 2021 regarding the public health order dated October 14, 2021. See post here: https://workplacelawblog.harpergrey.com/2021/10/26/healthcare-facility-vaccine-mandate-pho-order-takes-effect-october-26/. That order requires most workers in government-funded healthcare facilities to be vaccinated in order to continue providing services. Significantly, in the above order, Dr. Henry also provides a warning to other healthcare ...

26 Months Awarded to Long Service Employee

19. August 2021 0
Earlier this year, our team blogged about a Saskatchewan court decision (Hetherington) which considered whether an earlier period of employment with the same employer counted for severance purposes.  In the case of Currie v Nylene Canada Inc., 2021 ONSC 1922, the Ontario Supreme Court considered a “break in service” argument, but in different circumstances.  Significantly, ...

Communication is Key if an Employee is Absent Without Leave

18. August 2021 0
In the case of Wong v Polynova Industries Inc., 2021 BCSC 603, the BC Supreme Court confirmed that a voluntary resignation by an employee requires an unequivocal act to repudiate the employment contract, and the employer must take steps to accept this repudiation. Facts Mr. Wong was an employee of Polynova Industries Ltd. for 15 ...