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Employment Law

  • July 14, 2019
Many organizations have policy manuals. They are a collection of policies which set out how certain issues are to be handled within the organization.  Examples include vacation, job protected leaves such as maternity or parental leave, dress codes, hours of...

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  • July 14, 2019
  • "Canadian Bills/Coins" by anitakhart is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
When is an employer able to make deductions from a British Columbian employee’s wages?    Section 21 of the British Columbia Employment Standards Act (ESA) states that except as permitted by provincial or federal legislation,  “an employer must not, directly or...

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  • May 23, 2019
  • DRUGS, ALCOHOL & WORK
Are you an employer with workers who may perform safety sensitive activities, but without a drug and alcohol policy and testing regime in place? Do you work with one or more colleagues who may perform safety sensitive activities? If so, and...

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  • May 14, 2019
  • MEDIATING & RESOLVING DISPUTES
Why not do it yourself -- write your own contract, that is?  In today’s age, there is no shortage of readily available tools, allowing you to do just that. Stationery supply stores carry self-help books on how to write your own...

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  • May 10, 2019
The British Columbia government recently tabled Bill 8, Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019.  This Bill, which has not yet become law, contains significant updates to the Employment Standards Act (British Columbia) (ESA).  It is the first of what is anticipated...

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  • April 26, 2019
  • Photo: Basket of colorful handcrafted dyed Easter eggs outdoors on the grass with one laid off to the side viewed high angle with copy space
Following the Easter long weekend, some employees may be receiving a little more cash this payday. British Columbia and Saskatchewan have more statutory holidays than the other provinces, with 10 each.  However, we honour fewer public holidays than are observed in...

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  • April 11, 2019
I am quite frequently asked this question. Administrative law is the body of law that governs administrative agencies. Administrative agencies are involved in virtually every aspect of our lives.  Examples include agencies that regulate food and drug products, securities commissions, local building...

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  • March 21, 2019
Does an employee have a right to see his or her own personnel file, without first obtaining the employer’s approval? If you are an employer, and an employee demands to see his or her personnel file, must you oblige? In B.C., Alberta...

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  • March 14, 2019
Is age relevant in dismissals? Under Canadian common law, an employer is able to dismiss a non-unionized employee in only one of two ways. One is with just cause. This is generally difficult, though not impossible, for an employer to establish. The second...

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  • February 21, 2019
In a recent decision in Envirocon Environmental Services, ULC v. Suen, the BC Court of Appeal confirmed that in order to establish discrimination in employment on the basis of family status, a human rights complainant must show: (1)    a change in...

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