Human Resources 101

Last June, the Alberta government announced increases to minimum wage would be based on the average weekly wage index and take effect on April 1 of each year. Today, it was announced that Alberta’s minimum wage will increase from $8 to $8.40 per hour on April 1, ensuring it keeps pace with other salary increases […]

Employment Standards:
Information on laws and regulations dealing with hours of work, minimum wage, vacation, overtime, rest periods, and more.
Alberta Human Resources and Employment - Employment Standards
British Columbia Ministry of Skills Development & Labour - Employment Standards
Manitoba Employment Standards Branch
New Brunswick Department of Training and Employment Development - Employment Standards
Newfoundland & Labrador Labour Standards Division:
Northwest Territories Labour […]

I think the most interesting part of this announcement is that minimum wage will be indexed to changes in the average weekly wage. It sounds like the minimum wage could be reduced in any given year the average weekly wage goes down. It would be interesting to see how that plays out.
Minimum wage will increase […]

Edmonton… Albertans won’t see 12 year olds working in bar kitchens. The Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission (AGLC) Board is reviewing a policy that would allow bar owners to apply for special permission to have youth under 18 work as kitchen help at their establishments.
The existing policy has been used in the past to allow […]

The following decision comes from an Alberta Human Rights Commission investigation into a workplace sexual harassment complaint.
Diane Carr v. Humpty’s Family Restaurant and Humpty’s Restaurants International Inc. (July 21, 2006; Delano W. Tolley, Panel Chair)
Discrimination – Grounds – Gender – Sexual Harassment – Area – Employment – Kitchen worker alleged sexual harassment at the […]

Older Workers Have Higher Levels of Engagement — As reported by HRI, workers ages 55 and over surpass younger employees on levels of workplace motivation and engagement.
Thirteen Ways to Frustrate Your Employees — from Michael Hyatt
Speaking in Public - Effectively — aimed a preachers, good for all speakers.
PIPEDA Review Transcripts — links to evidence presented […]

I wonder if Safeway’s supplying this type of personal information is a bit of quid pro quo. We report your employees to you and you return the favour, if necessary.
Alberta’s Information and Privacy Commissioner has ruled that Canada Safeway did not have authorization to release personal information of an individual to that person’s employer.
In […]

Back in April I pointed to a series of stories CBC ran on workplace safety in Canada. This time around, CBC is looking at the disconnect between workplace safety inspections and the modern workplace environment. The series, Out of Sync, looks at increasing safety threats in health-care and administrative work settings, while safety legislation continues […]

Almost a year and a half ago, a 14 year old boy was killed on the job while sandblasting a truck box. The Reynolds Museum and its director were convicted of employing an underage individual without parental consent and of having the teen in a dangerous work environment.
The museum and owner were fined the maximum […]

New to this Website

The Financial Hardship Application Form and the Instructions and Policies has been amended to reflect legislative changes effective August 10, 2006, and to provide additional clarification related to the program requirements - December 11, 2006.
Policy Bulletin #2 is updated to indicate that Trust documents submitted for filing with the Superintendent must be […]