Retention
Sale of a Business and Transfer of Work
An employer cannot extinguish the employees’ collective bargaining rights by simply selling the business. Certain provisions of the British Columbia Labour Relations Code are specifically designed to preserve the collective bargaining rights of employees and unions when businesses change hands.
Notice to Bargain
In the circumstances of a new certification, where no collective agreement exists, collective bargaining will commence when either the union or the employer provides written notice to the other party requiring it to begin collective bargaining.
Labour Relations Code Made Simple
Many BC tourism operations have employees represented by trade unions, and others have faced organizing drives. For these employers, the BC Labour Relations Code is a critical piece of legislation. Even those employers with no union experience should know the law regarding the unionization of workplaces.
First Collective Agreement
It is not uncommon for parties involved in the negotiation of their first collective agreement to experience more difficulties than unions and employers with a longer history of bargaining.
Dispute Resolution
The Labour Relations Code provides various mechanisms for a cooperative, expeditious and final settlement of workplace disputes, without work stoppages and with as little impact as possible on the public and those not involved in the dispute.
Employer Health Tax – what is it and how much will your business pay?
On January 1, 2019, the Employer Health Tax (EHT) was implemented in BC. The EHT is a payroll tax, calculated on employment income, including bonuses, commissions, tips paid through employers, employer RRSP contributions and many taxable benefits. Employers whose total annual payroll in BC is $500,000 or less need not pay EHT, and rates for… Continue reading Employer Health Tax – what is it and how much will your business pay?
Human Rights Tribunal and Complaint Process
Human Rights Tribunal and Complaint Process All complaints are filed directly with the Human Rights Tribunal. The BC Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body, responsible for accepting, screening, mediating and adjudicating human rights complaints. The complaint process provides many opportunities to settle the dispute, including mediation, early intervention by tribunal staff and a… Continue reading Human Rights Tribunal and Complaint Process
Key Issues of the Employment Standards Act
What follows is a brief review of your obligations under the Employment Standards Act on the key issues of overtime, uniforms, tips, dine-and-dash, cash shortages, vacations, split shifts, call-in, statutory holidays and breaks.
Trial by Fire
Recent Fires highlight importance of EFAP, preparedness. In recent years forest fires have devastated the country, especially in British Columbia. These emergencies highlight the importance of preparedness and effective administration of employee and family assistance programs (EFAP) to affected employees. Bob Veder and Noi Quao wrote this article originally in 2017 in response to the… Continue reading Trial by Fire
Employees’ Religious Needs: Accommodate Them or Face Costly Consequences
In many cases, the BC Human Rights Tribunal has awarded individual employees thousands of dollars in lost pay and damages when an employer did not accommodate their religious (not spiritual) needs. Know your legal obligations.