Tag: Employment law

To dock or not to dock? That is the question

by Kara E. Shea One of the most common questions I hear from employers involves when they can or can’t dock employees’ paychecks. It’s very tempting to use an employee’s paycheck as a way to recoup losses you’ve incurred because of her actions, especially when, as a practical matter, there will never be any other […]

Pay the lady

Patricia Arquette won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, and people are still buzzing about her acceptance speech where she exclaimed: “It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America!” Arquette will be pleased to know that […]

Federal sector employers have right to dismiss without cause, too

by Bonny Mak Waterfall There’s good news for Canadian employers in the federal sector—those engaged in federal works and undertakings such as airlines, airports, railways, banking, interprovincial transportation, and telecommunications. For many years, employers in Canada’s federal sector understood that they did not have the right to dismiss employees without cause unless such termination was […]

Trying applicants on for size: Know the limits of job tryouts

Ever been fooled in a job interview? Some applicants interview well but then turn out to be disappointments on the job. Others might seem iffy during the interview process but become star employees. The uncertainty inherent in the hiring process has led many employers to devise ways to test candidates in real world situations, either […]

Honesty in HR matters: It really is the best policy

by Susan Llewellyn Deniker According to one of Billy Joel’s many great songs, “Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue. . . . Honesty is hardly ever heard, but mostly what I need from you.” Sure, honesty is admirable and virtuous, but it’s also the best policy for handling employment matters. Even […]

New express entry system introduced by CIC: What employers should know

by Isabelle Dongier As of January 1, 2015, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) implemented its new electronic Express Entry (EE) system, which must now be used by potential applicants for permanent residence under certain economic immigration programs. These programs include the Canada Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Program, the Federal Skilled Trades […]

‘Transparent’ brings gender identity issues to forefront

Amazon’s streaming series Transparent follows Maura Pfefferman (born Morton Pfefferman and played by Jeffrey Tambor of Arrested Development fame), a retired political science professor and parent of three adult children, as she finally reveals to her family that she has always identified as a woman. The show’s creator, Jill Soloway, was inspired by her own father, who came out […]

Legal issues associated with dating in the workplace

by Kylie Crawford TenBrook According to a 2012 Stanford University sociology study, 10 percent of people meet their spouses at work. Coworker dating is common. Unfortunately, not all relationships end well, and when they don’t, employers can face harassment and retaliation claims. Although most businesses have no rules about office relationships, now may be the […]

romance

A practical look at dating in the workplace

by Kylie Crawford TenBrook With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s a good time to review the problems that can arise from office romances and outline some steps you can take to prevent them from occurring at your workplace. It’s no secret that workplace relationships can lead to trouble, particularly when they sour. One […]

“I’m Ron ******* Swanson”

Ron Swanson is the man. If you’re not a Parks & Recreation devotee, I can’t recommend enough that you tune in if for no other reason than to enjoy his morsels of wit and wisdom. For the uninitiated, Ron Swanson is fictional Pawnee, Indiana’s, director of Parks & Recreation. He’s a crusty, deadpan, hard-core libertarian […]