With the holidays around the corner, companies and their employees are eagerly awaiting their company holiday parties, where staff will have a chance to let loose with their colleagues and loved ones. For employers, there are a lot of things…
Author: Guest Writer
Cannabis and the Workplace: Safety-Sensitive Roles
On October 17, 2018, the Canadian Government legalized cannabis for recreational use across Canada. Many Canadians celebrated what’s come to be called “National Cannabis Day.” HR professionals and employers whose organizations employ workers in safety-sensitive roles were likely less jubilant.…
Federal Government Approves Drug Testing System for Roadside Testing
With the legalization of marijuana just around the corner (October 17, 2018), regulators and employers remain concerned about the potential impact cannabis may have on an individual’s ability to work safely in a safety-sensitive environment. To date, the Federal government…
Legal Review: Suncor’s Random Drug & Alcohol Testing Policy
In 2012, Suncor Inc., a large energy company with substantial operations in the Alberta Oil Sands, introduced a random drug and alcohol testing policy at its operations in Northeastern Alberta. Employees at Suncor’s sites generally worked twelve (12) hour shifts, and operated some…
The Historic Legalization of Recreational Cannabis
On June 21, 2018, almost three years after Prime Minister Trudeau first proposed that recreational cannabis ought to be legalized in Canada, the Federal government gave Royal Assent to An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and…
Medical Marijuana – Undue hardship in the Context of a Safety Sensitive Workplace
Ontario’s Human Rights Code (the “Code”) protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination in the context of employment. In that regard, the Code requires employers to accommodate individuals with disability-related needs, up to the point of “undue hardship”. Accommodating an employee…
Court of Appeal clarifies “general duty” clause under the OHSA
On June 7, 2012, a worker tragically fell to his death while working at an industrial steel facility in Guelph, Ontario. The worker, a skilled finishing welder, was welding a large steel product. At the time of the incident, the…
Proving “Due Diligence” in Cases Involving Fatalities
In August 2017 we reported on an emerging story involving an Ontario construction employer by the name of Cobra Float Services (“Cobra”). You may recall that Cobra was charged by the Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) for violating numerous provisions of…
Workers’ Compensation Update: Work-Related Chronic and Traumatic Mental Stress
On January 1, 2018, very significant legal changes were made to Ontario’s workers’ compensation system. Adapting to these changes will require amendments to employment policies, workers’ compensation / occupational health and safety training programs, and return to work accommodations. In…