Tag: Employment law

Success through rudeness and hostility

Silicon Valley’s third season is in full swing on HBO, which raised a question in my mind: if Michael Scott’s Dunder Mifflin warranted an entire blog from the FordHarrison crew, isn’t the Hacker Hostel’s Erlich Bachman at least due his own post? My answer: Of course he is! For the uninitiated, Silicon Valley is a […]

Make sure you’re not singing the ‘Summertime Blues’

by Teresa Shulda Summer will be here soon, and we’ll be car-dancing to the latest “summer jam.” During my time, the top summer hits were by music greats Madonna and Def Leppard. Whatever your favorite summer tunes are, it’s important to remember that summer brings lots of opportunities for employment law jams—and they aren’t the […]

Damages for wrongful dismissal: Who must prove what?

by Keri Bennett As noted in past articles here, Canadian employees can sue for lack of adequate notice of termination. Fired employees seeking damages for inadequate notice have a corresponding duty to mitigate or minimize any resulting losses. If other work is available, their losses may be minimal. Employees frequently claim a lack of available […]

Exploring safety dilemmas: What to do when disabilities complicate evacuations

Planning for an emergency can be a complicated task. Emergencies, almost by definition, are tough to predict and, therefore, tough to prepare for. And even carefully planned emergency preparedness procedures can go awry if a disability prevents an employee from being able to evacuate the workplace in a dangerous situation. Recently, attorneys familiar with workplace […]

Employer-sponsored social events: Don’t let liability risks scorch your summer fun

by Angela N. Johnson Summertime usually brings warm, sunny days for making fun-filled memories. For employers, it can be a time for company-organized social events, such as picnics, baseball games, or competitive recreational activities. This article identifies ways to minimize any potential liability arising from such activities.  Social events and alcohol consumption Several states have […]

Harassment at work: Do victim’s wishes matter?

by Alexandra Meunier When assessing whether behavior constitutes sexual harassment, Canadian decision-makers usually look at the situation objectively. In other words, they don’t typically put much emphasis on subjective elements, such as the perception of the victim. Recently, an arbitrator in Quebec has done just that.

Cooling hot political buttons

During every political campaign, I am reminded of the notion that if we speak about our co-workers or subordinates in the manner in which the American voter speaks about political candidates, we should expect some remediation by our superiors or human resources. For example, if we question the legitimacy of an employee’s birth certificate, criticize […]

Research shows rewards, recognition programs not one size fits all

Figuring out how to keep employees engaged can keep human resources professionals up at night. Good pay, generous benefits, and various perks contribute to the mix of techniques used to motivate employees. But a simple pat on the back may be the best place to start.  Although employees value pay hikes and prestigious titles, a […]

3 essential areas of supervisor training

by Jason Ritchie It’s imperative that you train your supervisors on key workforce management topics. Here are three compliance areas that should top your training list.  Knowing company policy and legal obligations Because supervisors are the frontline company representatives who have the most day-to-day contact with employees, they need to know and understand your company […]

No bluff: Wright demands equal pay on House of Cards

Actress Robin Wright, who plays the formidable Claire Underwood on House of Cards, is the latest in the entertainment world to speak out on equal pay. According to a recent interview, Wright demanded equal pay after statistics showed that her character was just as popular (if not more so) than that of her male costar, […]