There is no doubt that absenteeism—frequent, unplanned staff absences without cause—is bad for your business. But what most employers often don’t realize is that the opposite can also be just as harmful to your bottom line. Presenteeism is a term used to describe a phenomenon where employees come to work even when they are unwell,...
As an employer, it is your responsibility to promote a workplace environment that upholds inclusivity and treats all employees with equality and fairness, irrespective of factors like age, religion, gender identity, and others. Despite sincere efforts, discriminatory incidents are still prevalent in several workplaces across Canada, with religious discrimination being a commonly occurring form. To...
According to data collected from the 2017 Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 78.2% of Canadians aged 15 and over reported drinking alcohol at least once in the last year. As an employer, you have a responsibility to create a safe and healthy workplace, and a drug and alcohol policy is an essential component of...
The workplace stigma around mental health appears to have been lifted, with 43% of employers reporting that they’ve witnessed employees talking more about their mental health in the last 12 months. However, only 12% of employees have confided in their bosses about their mental health, and one in seven of those who did speak to...
In recent years, major changes have been made to the legal status of cannabis in Canada. Cannabis was legalized for retail sale and recreational use in 2018, and regulations permitting the sale of cannabis edibles were adopted in October 2019. As cannabis legalization continues to sweep across Canada, many employers are grappling with how to create policies that ensure the safety of their...
Disability continues to be the most frequently cited ground of discrimination received by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. In 2017, Statistics Canada found that 22% of Canadians (6.2 million), had one or more disabilities. Another report by Statistics Canada found that 12% of those with disabilities had been refused a job because of their...
In today’s business world, maintaining a productive and positive workplace is essential to the success of any company. However, when employees fail to meet the expectations of their job, employers must take appropriate action to address the situation. One such tool for managing employee performance is the employee warning letter. In this article, we will...
As an employer in Ontario, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to temporarily lay off employees due to unforeseen circumstances, such as a business downturn or a global pandemic. It’s important to understand the legal requirements surrounding temporary layoffs to ensure you are complying with employment standards and avoiding any legal...
A provincial minimum wage is the lowest wage an employer can legally pay their employees. New Brunswick’s Labour Standards Act (LSA) outlines the rules around minimum wage entitlements. The New Brunswick general minimum wage is increasing to $14.75 per hour from $13.75 per hour on April 1, 2023. It is important to note that while...
