On May 21, 2021, we reported in a blog post that the British Columbia government passed Bill 13, Employment Standards Amendment Act (No. 2), 2021, which amends the Employment Standards Regulation to add a permanent and paid sick leave program. The Government did not provide details on the leave at that time. However,
Ontario Government Announces Plan to Reopen Ontario
On October 22nd, 2021, the Ontario government announced its plan to gradually lift all public health and workplace safety measures by March, 2022. The plan will be guided by public health indicators, including those tracking new COVID-19 variants, increases in hospitalizations, ICU occupancy and rapid increases in transmission.
Provisional Timeline for Removing COVID-19 Restrictions:
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- October
Ontario Court Rules Severance Pay Is Based on Global Payroll
We are pleased to share a recent SHRM article, “Ontario Court Rules Severance Pay Is Based on Global Payroll,” with quotes from Andrew Shaw. The article discusses the recent unanimous ruling by Ontario’s Divisional Court—a branch of the Superior Court of Justice in Canada’s largest province—that more employers in Ontario will now have to take
Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Guidance on Vaccine Mandates and Proof of Vaccination
As of September 22, 2021, Ontarians must be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination and photo ID to access certain public settings and facilities. In response to the requirement, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “OHRC”) published a Policy Statement (“Policy”) clarifying the implications of vaccination mandates on human rights
Remote Working from Outside of the Jurisdiction: The Pandemic and Beyond (Video)
Special thanks to Stephanie Dewey.
Baker McKenzie’s Labour and Employment, Global Immigration and Mobility, and Tax lawyers review the wide variety of legal issues for Canadian employers to consider regarding a temporary or permanent remote work opportunity outside of the province of the employment agreement and provide tips on how employers can offer employees flexibility
Federal Government Announces Extension of COVID-19 Supports
On July 30, 2021, the Federal Government announced its proposal to extend certain COVID-19 support programs, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (“CEWS”), Canada Recovery Benefit (“CRB”), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit until October 23, 2021.
Summary of Key Changes in the Federal Government’s Announcement
The key changes from
Employers Beware: Court Rules Ontario Severance Pay Based on Global Payroll
Under the Ontario Employment Standards Act (“ESA”), employers with a payroll of at least $2.5 million are required to provide statutory severance pay when dismissing an employee with 5 or more years of service. But how is an employer’s “payroll” actually calculated?
Over the years, there have been conflicting decisions around the calculation of the
Federal Budget Bill Changes Canada Labour Code and Economic Support Programs
On June 29, 2021, the Federal Government passed Bill C-30, Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1, introducing a number of changes impacting federally regulated workplaces and extending existing COVID-19 related economic measures.
Changes to the Canada Labour Code (“CLC”):
- Child Death & Disappearance Leave: The maximum period of leave for a parent of a
Ontario Government Amends Notice and Reporting Requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
On June 7, 2021, the Government of Ontario filed amendments to several Regulations made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (“OHSA”). The majority of the amendments relate to the reporting of workplace accidents.
Employers in Ontario should review their current incident reporting policies and procedures regarding critical injury or fatalities in the workplace to
Deemed Infectious Disease Emergency Leave Extended Again to September 25, 2021
On June 4, 2021, the Ontario Government announced that the “COVID-19 Period” and the temporary measures introduced by O. Reg. 228/20: Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (the “Regulation”) under the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”) have been extended until September 25, 2021.
The Regulation, which was first introduced in May 2020,