The Covid19 pandemic is creating significant challenges in the workplace and those challenges will only increase as governments impose stricter and stricter restrictions on the movement of individuals in our society. This has significant impact on businesses and employees whether it is through ill or quarantined workers, closure of businesses due to government order or ...
On March 18, 2020 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as the Minister of Finance, Bill Morneau, and the Governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz held press conferences to outline the measures that the government will be taking to assist Canadians as uncertainty surrounding the effects of COIVD-19 mounts. A significant portion of the ...
On the heels of the recent declaration of a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the Trudeau government has announced a package of $1 billion to help in the Coronavirus fight. This funding will be in effort to reduce the economic impact of the virus. Learn more about this new development and other helpful information in ...
Yesterday saw the ever changing Covid-19 situation evolve further. Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau has tested positive for the virus and the Prime Minister has gone into isolation. The NHL suspended play as did the national soccer league and the MLB has postponed the start of their season. Ontario announced that schools would close for 2 weeks after ...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared the Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. This does not mean that the characteristics of the disease have changed at all, it simply means there are concerns with its geographic spread. According to the WHO a pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have ...
The COVID-19 epidemic challenges companies to carefully review strategies, policies and procedures they have in place to protect employees, customers and operations. Management of the workplace in the face of the epidemic engages a variety of legal considerations that have significant implications for both employers and employees. Rose Keith, QC, a member of our leading ...
The British Columbia Court of Appeal recently provided guidance on what employer’s must do if they want to rely on revised contractual terms. Fresh consideration is necessary. The employee in Quach v. Mitrux Services Ltd. 2020 BCCA 25 was terminated before he started work, but after he had left a secure position to work for ...
The Federal Court of Appeal recently affirmed that an employee who signs a final release is not barred from bringing an unjust dismissal complaint under the Canada Labour Code (the “Code”). The provincial employment standards legislation does not apply to employees in certain federally regulated industries. Those working in a federally regulated sector, such as ...
The World Health Organization recently declared novel coronavirus (“coronavirus”) a global health emergency. Countries across the world are taking precautions to prevent the spread of the infectious virus. In light of the current situation and potential for escalation, employers should be cognizant of their workplace duties relating to these types of health scares. Prevention Employers ...
While Uber made its highly anticipated arrival in British Columbia last week, the leading ridesharing company is awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada on the validity of an arbitration clause in their contracts with drivers. Uber is a Netherland based company but operates worldwide treating their drivers as Independent Contractors. When an ...
