Human Resources 101

Here in Canada, terminating an employee can be a risky, difficult job. If you do it for the wrong reasons, or in the wrong way, a court may force you to pay damages to the employee. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of being sued.
Here is an outline of things you need […]

The Dell call centre in Edmonton has been open for less than four years. Dell built a brand new facility to house the operations. I don’t know if there are any other departments in the facility, but it’s a big building to leave vacant.
IBM and Convergsys both have call centre operations in Edmonton. I imagine […]

Fear Of Firing – Business Week Online on the blurring of the “at will” lines in U.S. employment.
If You’re a Canadian Employer You Should Seriously Consider Using Employment Contracts – Michael Fitzgibbon posts some thoughts on using employment contract with no concept of at-will employment in Canada.
Crabby’s 10 ways to ease your boredom at work – […]

Michael Carroll was a branch manager with Emco, a plumbing and heating supply company, for 16 years. Several employees reported to him, including Barbara Randall, an inside sales employee. In 2002, Carroll and Randall began an intimate, sexual relationship that continued for almost three years.
Throughout the relationship, Carroll was Randall’s immediate supervisor, and was responsible […]

Michael Fitzgibbon is speaking today at the Ontario Bar Association 6th Annual Current Issues in Employment Law: Developments in Supreme Court Doctrine on developments and trends in Wallace damages in the 10 years since the release of Wallace v. United Grain Growers Ltd..
He’s posted a outline of the points he’ll be covering in his presentation. I’m […]

The superintendent of Edmonton’s public schools was “terminated without cause” and given a $179,000 severance package, board chair Bev Esslinger said Tuesday.
Lyall Thomson was just over four months into his three-year contract when he was terminated last week by the trustees. On Tuesday, Esslinger held a news conference on his departure, but she had few […]

The head of Home Depot Inc. left the home improvement chain on Wednesday in a mutual agreement, taking with him a severance package worth about $210 million US.
The surprise departure of Bob Nardelli from the role of chief executive officer after six years came amid investor unhappiness over Home Depot’s share price performance. Nardelli also […]

Human Resources and Social Development Canada has put together a set of guidelines to applying progressive discipline in the workplace. While designed to assist federally regulated workplaces, there is lots of helpful information for any employer in Canada.
Click to download: Progressive Discipline Guidelines (pdf - 389 KB)

Do you have concerns with an employee’s work performance?
Here […]

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 & […]

LONDON (AFP) - A company has defended its decision to sack one of its staff by text message, claiming it was keeping in touch with youth culture.ADVERTISEMENT
Katy Tanner, a 21-year-old sales assistant, received the message while she was off work with a migraine, the South Wales Echo newspaper said Friday.
The text message said: “We will […]