As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, working from home or telecommuting has become a widespread practice for many workers in Ontario. As people and workplaces mobilized to contain COVID-19, a greater number of workforces began to merge their home life with their work life. For some, this was an easy transition; for others, combining child-care …
Working from Home: Health & Safety After the Pandemic Read More »
The Ontario government is lifting some COVID-19 restrictions, including proof of vaccination rules. It even says it’s considering an end to masking. But does this mean that workplace masking and vaccine mandates are over? If so, how can workers stay safe?
With back-to-school after the winter holidays postponed and COVID-19 infection rates high once again due to the omicron strain, January 2022 does not look how we expected. In fact, many employers and schools had penciled in January 2022 as an end to working from home and remote learning. For many, this is no longer realistic. What does homeschooling again mean for your rights at work? Can your employer make you go back to the office? Can you take a leave?
Can your employer make you agree sign a non-compete agreement? Can your boss demand that you respond to emails on the weekend? A new Ontario law bans non-competition agreements and creates a Right to Disconnect from work. At least for some workers. What is the Working for Workers Act? Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, …
Are non-compete clauses legal? Do you have a Right to Disconnect from work? Read More »
As Hamilton gears up for “Phase 2” of the re-opening this Friday (June 19) and COVID-19 pandemic restrictions loosen, a growing number of businesses are calling their employees back to work. Understandably, there’s a lot of confusion about what this means for employers and employees. If your workplace re-opens do you have to go back …
COVID-19 Phase 2 Re-Opening in Hamilton: Do I have to go back to work? Read More »
The CERB or Canada Emergency Response Benefit is a special benefit available to workers who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even self-employed people or workers who have seen their income drop to $1,000 or less per month may be eligible for the CERB. Unsurprisingly, this new benefit has changed a bit as …
Employee privacy during the COVID crisis is a major concern in workplaces across Canada. For the non-essential business, new rules have required the shut-down of the physical work site. These rules have resulted in temporary shutdowns and layoffs for some organizations. In contrast, those less dependent on their physical operations have shifted toward telecommuting and …
Privacy in the Time of COVID: Employee Privacy Rights when Working from Home Read More »
The COVID-19 pandemic means that more people are working from home. For many people, this happened suddenly due to health and safety concerns or emergency orders to close all non-essential businesses. As we settle into this new routine (at least for a while), you may be wondering: does working from home affect my rights or …
I’m working from home during COVID-19, what are my rights? Hours of Work Read More »
On 19 March 2020, the Ontario government passed the Employment Standards Amendment Act (Infectious Disease Emergencies), 2020. This new law provides job protected COVID-19 leaves for Ontario employees directly affected by the coronavirus. It also excuses employees affected by COVID-19 from providing sick notes to access these new leaves. It does not mandate paid sick days …
Bill 186: New COVID-19 Leaves for Ontario Employees Read More »
Federally regulated employees with COVID-19 may be wondering what their employment law rights are. It’s easy for federally regulated workers to get lost in the mix. The vast majority of employees are provincially regulated – and there’s been a lot of press around provincially regulated Ontario employees’ new rights in light of the coronavirus pandemic. …
