Leave or Absence
Compassionate Care Leave
As of May 2018, the entitlement to unpaid compassionate care leave in BC has increased from eight weeks to 27 weeks (six months).
Bereavement Leave
Section 53 provides that employees are entitled to up to three days of unpaid leave on the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family.
Termination Without Cause: Determining Reasonable Notice
An employee is entitled to a certain amount of notice (or pay in lieu of notice) when their employment is terminated without cause. Terminating an employee without just cause can be complex. Employers should be careful in making determinations about the amount of notice provided to a terminated employee in order to avoid claims for wrongful dismissal.
Compensation is More Than Just a Pay Cheque
Compensation refers to all forms of pay and rewards received by employees for performance in their jobs, including all forms of cash, benefits, services and perks. It is important to recognize and communicate the total compensation to your employees. This should be done so that the value of what you are offering in compensation is clear and thus attracts and retains the people you need.
Compensation Philosophies Are Not Just For Large Companies
Compensation philosophies are not just for companies with hundreds of employees and a structured corporate environment. Instead, they are a practical addition to organizations of any size, including small to medium businesses.
Prohibition of Mandatory Retirement
Effective January 1, 2008, the definition of age in the Human Rights Code changed from “an age of 19 years or more and less than 65 years”, to “an age of 19 years or more”. The effect is to provide employees with the choice of whether to continue working past age 65 and to allow claims of discrimination in employment if employees are required to retire at age 65.
Just Cause and Performance Management: A Legal Perspective on Employee Dismissal
The message from the courtrooms is crystal clear: when it comes to establishing just cause for performance-based concerns, effective performance management programs are critical. Employees must be given clear direction, clear warnings and opportunities to improve.
Bona Fide Occupational Requirement
As an employer, you may lawfully discriminate, based on an otherwise prohibited ground, if you can prove legitimate business reasons. However, you must be able to demonstrate that the workplace rule, policy, standard or criteria relied upon is a "bona fide occupational requirement."
Firing Pasta Maker a Recipe for Disaster
When Richard Flores began a two week medical leave from his job as a pasta maker, he had no reason to think his employment would be in jeopardy. Soon after his return to work from a bout of acute gout arthritis in his foot, however, Flores found himself out of a job.
Collective Bargaining
With a certification, a union gains the right to compel the employer to engage in collective bargaining with the union on behalf of the employees it represents. The goal of collective bargaining is a collective agreement, which is a binding contract between the union and employer concerning the terms and conditions of employment for employees in the bargaining unit.