HReview Breakfast Seminar Archive: 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination and the Workplace – Where Do We Stand
As COVID-19 vaccinations became widely available to Canadians, many employers introduced policies to require employee vaccination. We also saw governments mandate COVID-19 vaccination policies in higher risk workplaces.
Not surprisingly, some unions and individual employees have opposed mandatory vaccination and taken their opposition to courts and arbitrators. The decisions of these adjudicators will determine how employers can apply COVID-19 vaccination policies to protect the health and safety of workers and the public, going forward.
Join us as we discuss:
- COVID-19 Case Law Update
- Recent case law on the reasonableness and enforceability of COVID-19 vaccination policies.
- How have human rights tribunals and commissions responded to COVID-19 complaints?
- COVID-19 Legislative Update
- The impact of case law and legislation on an employer’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.
Hello – Goodbye: Best Practices When Hiring and Managing Departures
One of the by-products of the COVID-19 pandemic has been seismic movement in workplace talent. Studies suggest between 25-40% of workers will look to leave their jobs as the pandemic subsides. As a result, employers will need to address two issues simultaneously: the recruitment of new talent and protection of the business from departing employees.
Join us as we discuss:
- Recruitment and Hiring
- Risks associated with ‘poaching’ an employee from an existing job.
- Can an employer consider a candidate’s social media profile in the hiring process?
- How to address COVID-19 vaccination.
- Considerations if hiring into a work-from-home (remote)/hybrid arrangement.
- Key employment terms to introduce at the hiring stage.
- Departing Employees
- Duties owed by a departing employee.
- Restrictive covenants and other key employment agreement terms.
- Ending employment during an employee’s resignation notice period.
- Can an employee who quits due to a COVID-19 related work requirement (vaccination, remote work etc.) successfully claim constructive dismissal?
Health & Safety: Building a Culture of Safety As We Return To The Workplace
As Ontarians return to the workplace there will be a heightened appreciation for employers who go the extra mile to keep their people safe. Our objective is to keep you up-to-date. Join us, and special guest Ron Kelusky, Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer, as we learn about Ontario’s COVID experience and initiatives for the near term.
1. Ontario Update: Ron Kelusky, Chief Prevention Officer
- COVID-19: Lessons learned and next steps. The role of the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (“MLTSD”).
- Non-COVID-19: MLTSD resources for employers and near-term compliance initiatives.
2. An Ounce of Prevention
- How to build a culture of safety.
- Risk assessments and safety plans.
- What policies and processes should an employer have in place now to reduce the potential of an accident or charge?
- Practical tips to skilfully handle a health and safety audit.
3. When The Worst Happens
- Despite your best efforts, an accident has happened, what now?
- The range of potential penalties.
- What circumstances give rise to the most severe penalties and imprisonment?
Privacy Law: New and Emerging Issues
With amendments to Federal privacy legislation on the horizon and COVID-19-related issues continuing to percolate, workplace privacy and confidentiality have emerged as hot topics in 2021. Join us as we discuss:
- Legislative Update
- Bill C-11 (the Digital Charter Implementation Act) and how it may impact your workplace.
- Is private-sector privacy legislation coming to Ontario (similar to some other provinces)?
- Hiring, Firing and Surveillance
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- Privacy and the hiring process.
- Employee breach of privacy or confidentiality – when is this just cause for termination?
- Surveillance (inside and outside of the workplace) – when is it permissible?
- The tort of “intrusion upon seclusion” – how has it been applied to the workplace; how might that change in the future?
- COVID-19
- Screening, test results and vaccination status – what is an employer entitled to know?
- When is it permissible to disclose COVID-19-related personal and/or medical information (e.g., to a co-worker, client, medical officer, etc.); how to safeguard this information.
- Workplace Privacy Policy – an Employer’s Best Friend
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- Why every organization should have a privacy policy.
- Key components of an effective and compliant policy.