Human Resource Policies | MacLeod Law Firm

Doug’s Top 10 Employment Law Stories of 2018

Doug MacLeod — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 14:49:23 +0000

In 2018 there were many new developments in the employment law world. Here are my top 10 stories of the year: 1. Bill 148 Bit the Dust Ontario’s Employment Standards Act received its last major update in 2000. During the last three years, the Liberal provincial government consulted widely and introduced comprehensive changes to this law by way of Bill 148. After this year’s spring election…

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Workplace Investigations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

MacLeod Law Firm — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 14:46:07 +0000

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) imposes several obligations on employers to investigate complaints of workplace harassment. When there is an incident or complaint of workplace harassment, OHSA requires the employer to conduct an investigation that is appropriate in the circumstances. An employer has a legal obligation to make the workplace safe so if there is any indication of…

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Keeping you Posted on Mandatory Postings in the Workplace

MacLeod Law Firm — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 14:35:54 +0000

As an employer, there are several documents that you must post in your workplace. Some postings are mandatory for all workplaces, while others depend on the nature of the business and the hazards present in the workplace. This blog describes some of these mandatory postings and provides you links to some of these required postings. Please note that posters that are sold by private companies do…

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Vicarious Liability – The Fallout from Festive Staff Parties

MacLeod Law Firm — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 13:17:07 +0000

With the legalization of cannabis behind us and holiday parties on the horizon, one question on employers’ minds is how to deal with cannabis use at staff parties. Vicarious Liability Employees need to be mindful of the doctrine of vicarious liability whereby employers are ultimately responsible for the actions and omissions of their employees in the course of employment. Liability is imposed to…

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Cannabis Legalization: Behind the Smoke and Mirrors

Doug MacLeod — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 13:44:03 +0000

Whether you’ve been looking forward to this day – October 17, 2018 – or whether you’ve been dreading it, the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada is officially here. Although employers have had over a year and a half to prepare for legalization, a recent Ipsos poll found that managers and employees are not on the same page when it comes to their respective expectations concerning the…

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Do you only hire workers who can work in Canada on a permanent basis?

Doug MacLeod — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 13:56:54 +0000

Imperial Oil Limited recently found out the hard way that imposing a Canadian citizen requirement as a job qualification can be a costly mistake. This case shows that the cost to respond to a human rights application filed by an unsuccessful job applicant can be significant even if a job applicant lies on his application form. The hearing in this case took 13 days. The Facts After graduating from…

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Secretly Recording Conversations at the Workplace: A Slippery Slope

Nadia Halum — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:12:17 +0000

Clients often ask me whether a supervisor or manager can record a conversation with a subordinate without the subordinate’s knowledge. As technology has advanced to the point that we all have recording devices in our pockets (i.e. our smartphones), this issue will only become more prevalent in the workplace. The first question I am usually asked is “Is it legal?” Although I do not profess to be a…

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