HReview Breakfast Seminar Archive: 2024

2024 ushered in many changes to the employment and labour landscape in Ontario and across Canada.

Join us as we discuss how these changes impact employers. Topics include:

1. Legislative Update
   • Changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act under the Working for Workers Four Act
   • Changes to the federal Canada Labour Code regarding rules for termination
   • Cross-Canada update on key employment-related legislative amendments including pay equity and pay transparency legislation

2. Labour Law Update
   • Bill C-58 amendments to the Canada Labour Code regarding replacement workers and maintenance of activities during a work stoppage
   • Constitutional law decisions in the labour relations context

3. Workplace Safety and Insurance Update
   • Recent changes to rates and benefits
   • Update regarding communicable disease, traumatic and chronic mental stress claims
   • How Canadian workers’ compensation boards are responding to the changing nature of work
   • New classification for temporary help agencies to come into effect on January 1, 2025

4. Looking forward to 2025
   • Changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act under the Working for Workers Five Act
   • Potential changes to privacy obligations under the Digital Charter Implementation Act
   • Employment related class action lawsuits

Join us as we discuss:

1. The new age

• • Union organizing strategies in 2023/2024

2. Early signs of internal organizing

• • Immediate steps employers should consider

3. An employer’s right to speak

• • How to communicate within the bounds of the law

4. The unexpected application

• • What to do when you receive an Application for Certification

5. Running a successful campaign

• • It is never too late to create engaged employees so they realize they don’t need a union

6. Update from the Ontario Labour Relations Board, Canada Industrial Relations Board, and select decisions from across the country

• • Current union activity and trends by industry

Workers’ compensation and human rights often intersect, causing no end of confusion and, sometimes,
angst for employers.

Join us as we unpack and discuss:

1. Workers’ Compensation and Human Rights

• • Overview of basic obligations

2. Intersection of Workers’ Compensation and Human Rights Decisions

• • Jurisdictional issues
  • Procedure for parallel cases
  • Impact of a decision in one forum on the other forum

3. Return to Work

• • Re-employment obligations and discrimination
  • Suitable work and accommodation
  • Frustration of contract

4. Possible Pitfalls and Practical Tips

Workplace health and safety issues, if not appropriately managed, can be a source of significant liability for an employer.

Join us as we discuss these important topics, including best practices to reduce risk:

1. Workplace Safety and Insurance (Ontario) Update

• • Recent changes to rates and benefits.
  • Amendments to the WSIB accident reporting process and how this may impact an employer.
  • New WSIB policy on communicable disease.
  • Update on chronic mental stress claims.
  • Practical tips to manage claims and reduce liability.

2. Health and Safety (Ontario) Update

• • Recent trends in charges and fines.
  • The difference between a health and safety inspection and investigation – what every employer should know. 
  • Impact of recent Supreme Court of Canada decision on construction site owners.
  • Due diligence in health and safety – practical tips to minimize risk.