HReview Breakfast Seminar Archive: 2016
What a Difference a Year Makes! Lessons from 2016 & Tips for 2017!
December 06, 2016
- Bill 132: September 8, 2016 ushered in new requirements and obligations to address and respond to workplace harassment. Are you aware? Is your organization ready?
- Drugs and Alcohol: The latest on drug and alcohol testing, and how to deal with (not in!) medicinal marijuana in the workplace.
- Family Status Accommodation: Recent case law has clarified the duty to accommodate child and elder care obligations. What does this mean for employers?
- Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act: New and expanded obligations took effect on January 1, 2016. Is your organization compliant? Learn what should be done.
- Changing Workplaces Review: Unprecedented and seismic! The Changing Workplaces Review will fundamentally alter the way Ontario employers do business. Learn what has transpired since our May HReview seminar, and what employers can still do to advocate for their interests!
Group Insurance Benefits – Avoid Dangerous Employer Liability Traps!
September 28, 2016
- Extending benefits of employment post-termination.
- Continuing health and dental benefits for an employee on leave: How long?
- Potential LTD risks when terminating employment and how to avoid those risks.
- Compensating for loss of benefits when paying severance compensation.
- Working with an LTD insurer in response to a request for modified duties.
- Responding to a dubious employee request for LTD benefits.
- Enrolment of an independent contractor into a group benefits plan.
- Enrolment of a contract employee into a group benefits plan.
- The importance of timely enrolment into a group benefits plan.
- Changing the terms of a benefit plan and constructive dismissal.
- Taxation issues related to LTD benefits.
In 2015, Ontario launched public consultations (Changing Workplaces Review) into amendments to the Employment Standards Act and Labour Relations Act. An Interim Report is expected to be released in early 2016. Recommendations will be far reaching and, we believe, have a dramatic impact on the regulation of Ontario workplaces. Yet, to date, there has been little employer participation in the consultative process.
May 31, 2016
- Employment Standards Act
- Increased minimum entitlements for part-time, casual and temporary agency employees
- Joint client – contractor liability for contractor employees (i.e., temp agencies, building services, franchisor/franchisees, etc.)
- Reconciliation and/or expansion of protected leaves
- Fewer exemptions from the application of the ESA
- Heightened enforcement, inspection and audit processes
- Labour Relations Act
- Unionization: Replacement of the vote process with a card based system
- Greater access to employee contact information given to trade unions
- Automatic access to interest arbitration to resolve disputes
- Increased regulation of strikes/lockouts (e.g., ban on replacement workers; time-limited strikes, etc.)
- Increased Labour Board powers to regulate the trade union–employer relationship (e.g., multi-site collective agreements, increased enforcement powers, greater financial penalties, etc.)
WSIB Claim Management: Avoiding costs and obtaining rebates
February 03, 2016
- Experience ratings
- Entitlement, recurrence, aggravation and pre-existing conditions
- Accommodation, return to work efforts and documentation
- Resignation and termination
- The dash of jurisdictions (WSIB, WSIAT, human rights and arbitration)