Presented by: Rochelle Pauls
No Nonsense Manager or Bully?Respectful Workplace Issues
Reasons to Deal with Workplace Bullying
• Harassment is disrespectful, degrading and demoralizing
• Employees perform better in a harassment-free work environment
• Legal considerations:• Workers’ Compensation Act• Human Rights Code• Constructive dismissal claims
What is Bullying?
The act of intentionally causing harm to others, through verbal harassment, physical assault or more other subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation, including ignoring and isolating the person
Examples
• Raising unsubstantiated performance concerns• Threatening and intimidating tactics and
unreasonable demands• Yelling at, swearing or belittling an employee• Persistent and unfounded criticism• Vulgar and demeaning remarks to subordinate
employees• Refusing to allow an employee to take breaks,
attempting to discipline him without cause and holding him to a higher standard of productivity
Bullying vs. Legitimate Management Authority
• The legitimate exercise of management authority is not bullying
• An exercise of management authority may cross the line if it is unnecessarily harsh, cruel or vindictive
Zlatogourskaia v. Veisman (2005 Ontario Superior Court)
• Employer severely reprimanded the plaintiff for leaving patient records unattended
• In the course of reprimanding her, Mr. Veisman yelled and cursed
• The court found the plaintiff had failed to establish Mr. Veisman’s conduct was unnecessarily harsh, cruel or vindictive
Bullying vs. Personality Conflicts
• King v. Skyview Financial Advisors (2006 Ontario Superior Court)
• Court found that the employee’s tense relationship with a co-worker who treated her with hostility did not impede her ability to do her job or subject her to any form of harassment
• The matter amounted to a simple personality conflict
Bullying Bosses
Shah v. Xerox Canada Ltd. (2000 Ontario Case)
• Mr. Shah worked for Xerox for 12 years
• Took a new position with the company
• Had always received good performance reviews, bonuses and pay raises before
• 6 months into his new position, manager raised largely unsubstantiated concerns with his performance
Shah v. Xerox Canada Ltd.
• At his review, he was told there were performance complaints against him
• He was not provided with any specific details and his manager did not verify the complaints
• Received an unexpected, unjustified and vague warning letter
Shah v. Xerox Canada Ltd.
• Was asked to sign a list of tasks assigned to him for completion
• He refused – many were unreasonable
• Got another warning letter and was placed on probation
Shah v. Xerox Canada Ltd.
• The court found that instead of telling Mr. Shah what was expected of him and giving him a chance to respond, his new manager became “more authoritarian, impatient and intolerant”
• The manager’s treatment of Mr. Shah made his continued employment intolerable
Bullying Co-Workers
• There is an onus on employers to prevent harassment from occurring between co-workers
• An employer’s failure to prevent the harassment of an employee by co-employees can lead to a claim for constructive dismissal
Morgan v. Chukal Enterprises (2000 BC Case)
• Plaintiff had been employed as a waitress at a pub for 13 years
• Claimed the new kitchen manager treated her and the other staff with hostility and rudeness
• He yelled, swore and belittled them, often in front of other customers
Morgan v. Chukal Enterprises
• Owners took kitchen manager’s side
• Admitted to the court that they were aware of his behaviour and tolerated it
• Court ruled in favour of the plaintiff, finding that the situation was intolerable and represented a fundamental change in her working conditions
Hertz Canada v. Canadian Office and Professional Employees’ Union
(2011 Grievance Arbitration)
• Arbitrator found that an employee had been the target of an intentional silent treatment by the grievors and that this conduct constituted harassment
• They “stopped talking to him” in vehicles while on their way to collect cars and drive them to other locations
Consequences of Bullying
• Increased absenteeism, turnover and stress• Increased recruitment costs• Decreased workplace productivity, morale and
customer service• Increased risk of accidents and incidents• Reduced corporate image and customer
confidence• Legal liability – human rights and constructive
dismissal
Human Rights Liability
• Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in employment
• If workplace bullying and harassment involves one of the protected grounds, an employer can face liability under the Code
• Remedies can be substantial
McIntosh v. Metro Aluminum Products et al. (2011 BC Human Rights Tribunal)
• Tribunal awarded the complainant lost wages and expenses of $17,394.65 and $12,000 for injury to dignity
• Subjected to sexual harassment• Was briefly engaged in an affair with the
owner of the company• After it ended he continued to send
inappropriate text messages, which got progressively more offensive
Wutke v. Mageria Holdings (2006 BC Human Rights Tribunal)
• Complainant worked as a cook in a pub
• Suffered from short-term memory problems and chronic back pain
• Kitchen staff yelled at her frequently
• Inferences that her memory problem resulted from drug use
• Introduced as a “space cadet” to a new employee
Wutke v. Mageria Holdings
• Tribunal found that her manager knew she had memory problems and should have been more sensitive to how things were said to her
• Should have explained to the other staff that they should not speak to her in such a manner
Liability for Constructive Dismissal
Liability for Constructive Dismissal
• A constructive dismissal claim may be made if an employee leaves because of intolerable working conditions created by bullying and harassment
• Employee can seek compensation for reasonable notice of termination
Liability for Constructive Dismissal
• Examples:• Shah v. Xerox – 12 months notice• Morgan v. Chukal Enterprises – 13 months
notice
• Likely to find constructive dismissal where the treatment is so unfair or harsh as to create intolerable working conditions under which it would be unreasonable to expect an employee to keep working
Bullying Legislation
• Occupational Health and Safety Regulation includes a section on “Violence in the Workplace”
• Federal jurisdiction also has regulation with respect to workplace violence
• Current B.C. Legislation only prohibits physical violent workplace harassment
Conclusions
• Prevention is the key
• Conduct will sometimes be questionable – not every inappropriate management decision will constitute bullying
• Awareness and communication are essential
What’s New in the Zoo? Labour & Arbitration Update
Presented by Taryn Mackie
What’s New at the Zoo?
• Drugs
• Privacy
• Drugs
• Privacy
Audience Poll…
Random Drug & Alcohol Testing
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Enter Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• Kraft paper mill that in 2006 unilaterally
adopted a workplace policy that included mandatory and random alcohol testing
• Testing was limited to a breathalyzer• Testing was limited to employees performing
safety sensitive jobs
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• The “randomness” of the testing was
accomplished by having the names of the 334 eligible employees selected by an off-site computer
• In any 12-month period, the computer would select 10% of the names on the list
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• An employee who occupied a safety sensitive
position was randomly tested • The employee’s test results revealed a blood
alcohol level of zero• Nevertheless, the Union filed a policy
grievance challenging the “without cause” aspect of the random mandatory alcohol testing policy
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• A union has the right to challenge a workplace
policy unilaterally imposed by management on the basis that the rules fail to meet the KVP test, which requires, for example, that:
> The rule be consistent with the collective agreement
> The rule be reasonable> The rule be clear and unequivocal
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• The Union in this case challenged the random
mandatory alcohol testing on the reasonableness criterion
• At arbitration, the Board balanced the privacy interests of the employee against the safety interests of the employer, and found that the policy was unjustified because the employer failed to establish a need for the policy
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• According to the Board, the employer could
not demonstrate that the mill operations posed a sufficient risk of harm that outweighed an employee’s right to privacy
• Specifically, the Board noted that there was no evidence of prior incidents of alcohol impaired work performance at the mill and the mill was not an “ultra-dangerous” place
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• The majority of the NBQB ruled to set aside
the Board’s decision• The NBQB found that if the “potential for
catastrophe exists”, no prior incidents should be required
• The NBQB also noted that the breathalyzer requirement was minimally intrusive and the testing was limited to safety critical positions
Random Mandatory Alcohol Testing
• Re Irving Pulp & Paper, 2011 NBCA• The NBCA dismissed the union’s appeal
> Past alcohol-related problems are not required if the workplace is “highly” or “inherently dangerous”
> “Highly” or “inherently dangerous” workplaces include employers involved in the production and refining of oil products or chemicals and employers in the mining and forestry sectors
> The NBCA noted some resistance to classifying trucking operations as “inherently dangerous”
• To be continued before the SCC…
You be the Judge…
Follow your nose?
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• 30-day suspension imposed on the grievor for
suspected drug use at work• The grievor was found in the dock office with
the strong smell of marijuana in the air• The grievor denied using drugs• The grievor was in a safety sensitive job
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• Witnesses testified that the office was used by
many people and “sometimes stinks”• The office typically contained dirty coveralls
and garbage
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• The grievor described the site as “a potash,
coal and canola oil site with piles of steaming crud all over”
• There were many animals onsite as well, such as skunks, geese, and raccoons
• It was not uncommon to smell skunk
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• The arbitrator set aside the suspension
> Although the foremen believed that they smelled marijuana in the office, the employer’s application of “the nose knows” test was insufficient; the foremen were not experts
> The grievor’s conduct was not particularly suspicious (e.g. no attempt to conceal anything and no signs of impairment)
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• The arbitrator set aside the suspension
> There was no “direct, clear, or cogent link” to the grievor smoking marijuana at the dock office
> Circumstantial evidence of smell alone is insufficient to establish that link
You need something more…
[Insert clip from 1:51 – 2:11]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTMRYbhPbZE
Do you follow your nose?
• Re British Columbia Maritime Employers Assn. 2012 CLAD• The arbitrator set aside the suspension
> To succeed, the employer must show, on a balance of probabilities, with cogent evidence that:
(1) the smell was marijuana; and
(2) the grievor was smoking marijuana
You be the Judge…
Union Access to Personal Information
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• In preparation for collective bargaining, the
Union asked the Employer to produce certain personal information about employees in the bargaining unit, including their:
> Names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, e-mail addresses, benefit coverage data (single, family, enrolled, ineligible, etc.), wage rates, premiums, job classifications, vacation entitlements, benefit usage data, etc.
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Employer refused and said that, in the
interests of protecting employee privacy, it would not disclose their personal information to the Union unless the employees had provided written consent to the Union permitting this disclosure
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Employer added that if the Union was
able to obtain their written consent, the Union should at the same time obtain the information it sought from the bargaining unit members themselves
• In the Employer’s words, the Union should just “make the effort”
• The matter went before the Labour Board
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• According to the Union, the Employer’s failure
to provide the information was contrary to the Code by interfering with the Union’s ability to represent its membership and by failing to bargain with the Union in good faith
• The Union was not asking the Employer to hunt down information from members, only provide information it already had in its possession
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Labour Board sided with the Union• The Board applied a 2-part test to determine
whether the Employer was in breach of the Code by refusing to provide the information
(1) Does the refusal interfere with the union’s capacity to represent the employees in the bargaining unit?
(2) If so, is there a sound business purpose that counterbalances that adverse impact on the union’s capacity?
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Labour Board sided with the Union
> Applying the test to the facts, the Board found that:> The Employer’s refusal did interfere with the
Union’s ability to represent its membership in bargaining, and the Employer did not suggest that it would be unable to, or have difficulty with, supplying the information to the Union
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Labour Board sided with the Union
> Applying the test to the facts, the Board found that:> The Employer had no sound business reason
for refusing to provide the information requested by the Union
Union Access to Personal Information
• Re Port Transport, 2011 BCLRB• The Labour Board sided with the Union
> Providing personal information on the membership to a union certified to represent the membership does not raise privacy concerns
> Unions have the right to access the personal information of bargaining unit employees without the employees’ written consent where the purpose of the access is related to the Unions’ representation of their membership
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• Employer had a third party administrator
manage its sick leave claims and accommodation claims
• When sick leave or accommodation was needed, employees were provided with a standard medical certificate form requiring various personal medical information, including diagnostic information, treatment information, and details of symptoms
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• The Union maintained that the requirement to
disclose medical information not mentioned in the collective agreement was unjustified, certain of the medical information required was an invasion of privacy, and requiring the employee to provide the information to a third party administrator was inappropriate
• The arbitrator agreed with the Union, in part
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• The arbitrator affirmed the longstanding case
law that although an employee’s personal medical information is generally private, an employer is entitled to sufficient information to satisfy itself that either:
> The employee is legitimately absent due to illness or injury or
> The employee is medically fit to return to work with or without accommodation
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• Caveat: The Employer is only entitled to
access the medical information that it reasonably requires in the circumstances
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• There is a distinction between medical
information required to assess the legitimacy of an employee’s absence and medical information required to confirm fitness to work or the implementation of accommodation
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• In legitimizing an absence, the employer,
absent a clear provision in the collective agreement, is generally not entitled to require an employee to disclose a diagnosis or details regarding the specific nature of an illness, its symptoms, or the treatment undertaken
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• In confirming fitness to work or implementing
accommodation measures, the employer may be entitled to this additional information if there is reasonable doubt concerning the employee’s fitness to perform the duties assigned and if they have a “demonstrable need” for this information
Medical Certificate Forms: One Size Fits All?
• Re OLG Point Edward Casino, 2011 Ont.• “One size fits all” forms may cross the line• The arbitrator noted that although most
employees would likely appreciate providing their information to an administrator rather than to the employer directly, the decision of who the employee discloses their medical information to is the decision of the employee
ACCOMMODATION UPDATE & PERCEIVED DISABILITIES
Presented by: Moira Aikenhead
The Duty to Accommodate
• Applies to all employers in BC• Must accommodate
employee’s disability to the point of undue hardship.
• Includes the duty to make reasonable inquiries about the employee’s limitations, sometimes including medical information.
Recent “Big Decisions” in Human Rights and Accommodation Law
• Cassidy (2011, B.C. Supreme Court)
• No Separate Procedural Duty to Accommodate
• BC Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) • The employer discriminated against Mr.
Cassidy by failing to treat him “fairly, and with due respect for his dignity, throughout the accommodation process”.
Cassidy, continued
• B.C. Supreme Court• No separate procedural duty to accommodate• All Tribunal should consider is whether the
employee was accommodated to the point of undue hardship
• Treating the employee in an unfair manner throughout the accommodation process does not in itself amount to discrimination.
Cassidy, continued
• Always best practice to treat employees fairly when considering accommodation.
Recent “Big Decisions”, continued
Figliola (2011, Supreme Court of Canada) No Forum Shopping in Human Rights
> In the employment context, many different forums for employment-related concerns.
• Forums include:• B.C. Employment Standards Tribunal;• Workers’ Compensation Review and Appeal Divisions;• B.C. Supreme Court;• Internal Union Grievance Processes and Arbitrations;• B.C. Human Rights Tribunal
Figliola, continued
• Supreme Court of Canada> Tribunal made an error in hearing a complaint
about issues already determined by a body “with the authority to resolve them” (i.e. the Workers’ Compensation Board).
Recent “Big Decisions” continued
• Mowat (2011, S.C.C.)
• Federal Human Rights Tribunal May Not Award Legal Fees• Legal fees, or “costs”• Supreme Court of Canada
> Considered whether the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal could award “costs”
Mowat, continued
• Canadian Human Rights Act, s. 53. If the Tribunal finds the complaint is valid, it may order the offending person:
> “compensate the victim for any or all additional costs of obtaining alternative goods, services, facilities or accommodation and for any expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the discriminatory practice”
Mowat, continued
Canadian Human Rights Act s. 53 does not include the discretion to award legal fees, not considered “expenses”.
Mowat, continued
• What about B.C.?• B.C. Human Rights Code, section 37:
> (2) If the member or panel determines that the complaint is justified, the member or panel…
> (d) may order the person that contravened this Code to…
> (ii) compensate the person discriminated against for all, or a part the member or panel determines, of any wages or salary lost, or expenses incurred, by the contravention.
Mowat, continued
• Distinction – Improper Conduct.> B.C. Tribunal has specific discretion in the Code to
award legal fees resulting from the improper conduct of another party.
> Failing to comply with Tribunal order;> Filing a baseless complaint;> Lying in the proceedings;> Etc.
Kerr
• Final case – SCENARIO:• What do you do?
a) WAIT
b) SEEK
c) TERMINATE
Kerr, continued
• Answer = (b)
• Kerr (2011, B.C. Court of Appeal)• Employer chose option (a), argued employee
obliged to provide objective evidence she was able to work before it had to consider returning her to work.
• Not the case, request for accommodation triggers duty to inquire.
Perceived Disabilities
• Disabilities in the Human Rights context include perceived disabilities. • If an employee can demonstrate the
discriminatory conduct by their employer resulted from the employer’s perception that they were disabled, even if they are not, then discrimination can be found.
Cases
• Cartwright, B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, 2011.• Employers must rely on the
medical evidence provided to them.
• If employee and doctors say fit to work, employer has fulfilled its duty to inquire.
Cases, continued
• Johnson, B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, 2010.• Unique decision, not clear any “adverse
treatment” other than hurt feelings. • Indicates employers should not even mention
assumptions about an employee’s abilities.• When in doubt, ASK.
Cases, continued
• Morgan-Hung, B.C. Human Rights Tribunal Decision, 2009. • Even if an employee has a disability,
employers should not make assumptions about the limitations of that disability.
Morgan-Hung, continued
• Possible employee’s cognitive capacity was declining and a reduced week would have been a beneficial accommodation.
> Employer discriminated by not seeking medical information, assuming cognitive impairment and imposing “accommodation”.
Lessons for Employers
• Do not assume an employee has restrictions unless you have received specific information from them that they do, preferably backed up by medical evidence.
• Even where medical condition or disability exists, do not make assumptions about the type of impairment this causes.
• Best interests of employee no excuse
Lessons for Employers, continued
• When you perceive decline in performance, INQUIRE.
• Seek medical evidence
USE IT, DON’T ABUSE IT
Use of Company Equipment in the Age of Technology – Presented by Ryan Berger
Use it, don’t abuse it
• Overview:• Management rights and obligations• Vehicles• Computers at work• Telephones• Laptops and mobile devices
Trying not to abuse it…
• Audience response system
• Questions 1 – 6
Use of Equipment
• Right of employer to manage the workplace
• What / where is the workplace?
• Includes use of company equipment
Use of Equipment
• We have the technology – can we use it? • Manage and monitor productivity • Safety of employees• Safety and security of systems and equipment• Theft prevention• Equipment maintenance• Avoiding liability
Don’t abuse it… privacy obligations
• Reasonable collection, use and disclosure• What is the need? • Is the use effective in meeting the need?• Is the loss of privacy proportional to the benefit?• Is there a less intrusive way?
• Are you notifying employees? (use policy)
• Investigations may be treated differently
Equipment - Vehicles
GPS and Telematics
• What information do you collect?
• How are you using the information?
• Is your use policy appropriate?
Equipment - Computers at work
• Computers record almost everything• Over-collection is hard to avoid• Regular monitoring without cause is probably
too invasive > Keystroke logging> Email and internet monitoring
• Are there alternatives? > blocking access> separate station / connection for break times
• Is your use policy appropriate?
Telephones
• Can you record telephone calls?
• What can you do with it?
• Consider:• Job duties• Is statistical information sufficient • Can you exclude personal calls? • Is your use policy appropriate?
Laptops and Mobile Devices
• Location services• Probable over-collection of information• Regular monitoring without cause is probably
too invasive
• Is your use policy appropriate?
Conclusion
• Are your use policies appropriate?
• Are you notifying employees?
• Are you balancing business needs and privacy?
• Just because you can do it, does not mean you should…
Is posting on the Intranet enough? Policies and Training
Presented by: Herb Isherwood
Context
• Review of Practice towards Policies
• Trending – our perspective• use of policies is up• no. of issues is up• complexity is up
• Proactive vs. Reactive
Context
• Expectations & Need• “Polyone”• Need to tell employees not to steal?• Phone v. email + internet policies• May be a generational
aspect to this
Context
• Duty of loyalty may not be obvious
• Need to be more prescriptive – employees expect it
• “You ought to know better” isn’t enough
Context
• But we are also problematic seeing implementation practices
> door stops + paper weights> adhoc and incremental
• There is an opportunity
to add value
Context
• disciplined + pro-active approach
• part of risk management
• assist with prevention (the primary goal) and enforcement
• not advocating that you go rule crazy
• do advocate a planned and purposeful approach
Reason for a Policy
a. align values
b. enhance reputation
c. uniform and consistent decisions
d. enhance efficiency
e. reduce risk of liability or loss
• Effective and appropriate policies are indicative of a well run organization
> fortifies your credibility
Why?
• There are a number of reasons• Some policies may be needed for more than
one reason1. There is or could be confusion or
misunderstanding• dress code• email and internet use• off-duty behaviour• confidentiality• right to lay off
Why?
2. Specific guidance is needed • expense reimbursement (use of company
credit card)• employee discounts• control procedures• general employee conduct• absenteeism
Why?
3. Protect against or reduce or reduce liability• respectful workplace/non-discrimination• conflict of interest• overtime• commission and bonus
policies• employee health • telecommute• safety
Why?
4. Comply with legal requirements• non-public organizations
> Privacy > WorkSafe
• public companies> code of conduct and disclosure + trading policy
• there are very few policies that are legally required
Why?
5. Establish consistent work standards & rules• progressive discipline• leaves of absence / notification of absence• work process or procedure• break rules
6. Establish consistent and fair treatment• benefits rules & procedures
> sick leave
• posting rules• assessment process
Why?
• Ultimate goal – add value> e.g. – absenteeism or overtime> clear and objective value
• value may be subjective> e.g. policies that align culture
> code of conduct> charitable giving
Why?
• If you can’t identify the value – do you need it?> judgment comes in here> can’t cover everything> there are no end of ways that employees can go wrong> consider:
i. risk to organization
ii. likelihood of occurrence + frequency
iii. how many employees impacted
iv. impact on reputation / stakeholders
• need to cover what is important to the organization
Why?
• If can show value – you enhance value of HR to the organization
> if you are told “We need a policy on that”, I suggest you test the idea against this criteria
> consider the reasons> determine if the policy will add real value
Preparation
• do some thinking before you write
• what needs to be dealt with• not just because it has happened• be proactive – what could go wrong
– how can we improve
Preparation
• canvass the organization> or at least a sampling
• what are the unwritten rules> are there exceptions> do they need to be codified
• what are the common frustrations
• get ideas from the internet> what are the issues?> but be critical and discriminating> won’t need some policies
i. visitors
ii. working abroad
iii. concealed weapons
> some will be specific to Canada and BC
Getting Support
• need to ensure you are not climbing out on the branch
• if support not there, will be undermined
• may need to decide what issues to fight for
Writing
• should be able to write your own
• involves a “what if” exercise> identify what might happen> address real possibilities
• try to be clear
• be concise as you can
Legal Review
• may need a legal review> policies with legal implication
i. privacy
ii. respectful workplace
> does not mean legalese
• policy needs to be
understood to be effective> but there will be wording that needs to be legally
designed
Implementation
• to enforce, you need knowledge + understanding
• simply posting + asking employees to review is dangerous
• Ideally all policies will be explained to each employee
> training > mandatory attendance
Implementation
• if want to discipline need to show employee knew about policy or that it was wrong
• posting on intranet – good> intranet helps
> access> availability
> but vulnerable> doesn’t establish knowledge, only availability
• require employees to know / sign off – better> helps with enforcement> but not as effective at prevention
Implementation
• Training programs are the best> require and record attendance> good for important policies
• not always practical• re-affirm annually
> good for enforcement> but may not help
prevention> add a test?> form to fill out
Implementation
• new employees> same concerns> obligate them to know and comply – good> show them where it is on the system – good> walk them through the policies – best
• part of the employment contract> obligate employees to comply> can be part of employment contract> but need to reserve right to change at any time
Interpretation / Enforcement
• be consistent> can be exceptions> will be discretion> but take rational approach
• can be a challenge> where multiple
managers enforce> but could be fatal
Interpretation / Enforcement
• monitor the policy – measure results> lots of exceptions?> groups not adhering?> could be fatal
• review periodically> policies with legal implication> privacy/respectful workplace> drug and alcohol
• go to seminars/read newsletters!
L&E Issues in 140 Characters or Less
Presented By: Andrew Schafer
Issues
• After Acquired Cause• Resignation• Dealing with EI Claims• Dress Code• Termination Clauses• Deducting Benefits and Pension from
Reasonable Notice• Restrictive Covenants• Limitation Period Update
This Presentation
• Resignation
• Restrictive Covenants
• After Acquired Cause
• Dress Codes
Resignation
• Employees who resign are not entitled to reasonable notice
• Simple then, right?
Resignation
• WRONG
• In order to be effective, resignation must be voluntary
• Subjective and objective component
Resignation
• Be careful of heat of the moment resignations
Resignation
• Terminating someone during resignation period can be done but employer will have to pay damages
• Common law: Remainder of the notice period
• ESA: lesser of the employee’s resignation period and the employee’s entitlement to severance under the Employment Standards Act
Resignation
• Best Practices• Confirm resignation in writing• Allow time to pass in “heat of the moment”
cases• Have provisions in employment contracts
limiting severance owed if employment terminated during resignation period
• Investigate absences before assuming employee has resigned
Restrictive Covenants
• Prevent former employees from working for competitors, setting up their own competing business, or attempting to solicit business from company clients
Restrictive Covenants
• Not enforceable unless reasonable
• High standard
• Types• Non-Compete• Non-Solicit• No Dealing
Restrictive Covenants
• In order to enforce, covenants must:• Protect a legitimate business interest• Contain a reasonable geographic scope• Contain a reasonable temporal scope
• If not enforceable, courts will not fix
Restrictive Covenants
• If enforceable, can form the basis of an action for damages and an injunction
• Consider what is reasonable before drafting
• Avoid using same covenant for all employees
After Acquired Cause
• General rule: employees entitled to notice of termination unless there is cause
• Problem: what if you dismiss an employee without cause but discover conduct that would be just cause after they have left?
.
After Acquired Cause
• Can be a full defence to a wrongful dismissal claim
After Acquired Cause
• Employer cannot have condoned behavior
• Does not include post-termination conduct but can include pre-employment conduct
• Does not apply to ESA severance, only common law
• Do not make in bad faith
Dress Codes
Dress Codes
• Unionized Businesses: must be reasonable, must be known to the employees, and must be enforced consistently
• Non-Unionized: businesses have much more leeway but reasonableness still a factor upon dismissal
Dress Codes
• Considering human rights considerations
• Recent example: rule prohibiting hiking boots in gym
Termination Clauses
• Limit reasonable notice owed upon dismissal
Termination Clauses
• Cannot contract out of ESA minimums
• Must be clear
• Should be in employment agreement
• Consideration needed to impose new termination provision
Dealing with EI Claims
• EI available to employees who lose their job through no fault of their own
• Don’t qualify if terminated for misconduct or if resign
Dealing with EI Claims
• Service Canada will investigate each case and decide whether employee committed misconduct
• Often decide that there is no misconduct
• Employer gets letter asking for response
• How should you respond?
Dealing with EI claims
• Little benefit to appealing an EI decision
• Respond by expressing disagreement with original decision but will not be appealing at this time
Limitation Periods
• Changing in BC
• Used to be six years, changing to two years
• Changes coming into force next year
• Will impact record keeping practices
Deducting Benefit andPension Payments from
Wrongful Dismissal Awards
• Problem: • Courts have allowed employers to deduct
disability payments made to employees during reasonable notice period from damages
• Courts have done the exact opposite with pensions
• SCC will address this in the near future