Human Resources 101

In May 2005, I posted links to some stories touching on the landmark Keays v. Honda Canada decision. As was anticipated, the decision was appealed. On September 29, 2006, the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the judge’s award of 24 months pay in lieu of notice, but significantly reduced the punitive damages awarded.
Blakes Bulletin on Labour & […]

Edmonton… A new guide for the service industry will help ensure customers are treated fairly and equally. Developed by the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, the information will help hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs to prevent discrimination and resolve problems when they do arise.
In addition to outlining the rights and responsibilities of individuals, […]

Canada has a high incidence of violence in the workplace. A 1998 study by the International Labour Organization reported:

Canada ranks 4th out of 32 countries for the number of women assaulted in the workplace
Canada ranks 5th for the number of men assaulted in the workplace
Canadian women report the 4th highest incidence of sexual harassment in […]

On May 10, 2006, the Human Rights Panel of Alberta confirmed the principle that employers cannot discriminate against pregnant employees. In Baker v. Crombie Kennedy Nasmark Inc. (“CKN”), the complainant alleged that she suffered discrimination in the area of employment practices on the ground of gender contrary to section 7 of the Human Rights, Citizenship […]

INTRODUCTION
What is “sexual harassment?”  Can any comment of a sexual nature in the workplace be considered “harassment?”  Does a remark about a fellow employee’s clothing or perfume cross the line of acceptable behaviour?  Are different rules of conduct applied to co-workers?  Managers?  Customers?  And, what if you are the person accused of inappropriate conduct in […]

Over the past number of months I have attended two H.R. workshops delivered by employment lawyers. Both lawyers made statements along the lines of, “it is impossible to fire an employee for cause, in Canada.
Employment lawyer Howard Levitt opens his Financial Post column, The rocky road to dismissal with much the same thesis. He then […]

In January, the Supreme Court of British Columbia awarded a female RCMP officer $950,000.00 damages for harassment she suffered at the hands of her supervisors. You can read the judgement here. This is the third Canadian Human Rights case, over the past number of months, where damages have reached a half-million dollars or higher. (Keays […]