About Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Working or not working on family day? A public holiday in most jurisdictions
Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia and now Nova Scotia are the Canadian jurisdiction that recognize Family Day as a public (statutory) holiday and allow workers that qualify time off with pay on that day. This year except in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, family day for these provinces fall on February 17, 2014.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
14 minutes read
February 14, 2014 
HRinfodesk poll result and commentary: Can you hold employees financially responsible for damaged workplace equipment (e.g., cellphone, laptop)?
Four hundred and sixty-two people responded to our recent poll, Can you hold employees financially responsible for damaged workplace equipment (e.g., cellphone, laptop)? Of the respondents, 167 (36.15 percent) indicated yes. However, 148 (32.03 percent) disagreed and 147 (31.82 percent) were not sure. So, what is the right answer?
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Religious accommodation and safety issues
As we can see by this article, employees requesting a religious accommodation can sometimes conflict with safety issues.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Do you need a cellphone policy for your workplace? And should cellphones be subsidized?
It seems that the majority of respondents to our recent HRinfodesk poll believe that they do need a cellphone policy. Last September we asked you: Does your company have a cellphone policy? 289 (61.75 percent) respondents out of 468 said they do; 163 (34.83 percent) respondents indicated they did not have a cellphone policy; and 16 believed they did not need one. So do you need one or not?
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Bonuses and employment/labour standards entitlements
As the managing editor of The Human Resources Advisor and Human Resources PolicyPro, I am often asked for clarification on bonuses and employment/labour standards entitlements. Essentially, should bonuses be included in the calculation of vacation pay and public holiday pay entitlements, and why?
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Thanksgiving Day, public holiday
Thanksgiving Day in Canada occurs on the second Monday in October every year. This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on Monday, October 8.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Employee tips or other gratuities
In general, restaurant and bar patrons are expected to leave a tip amounting to approximately 15 percent of their total bill when dining out or drinking. However, we do so without asking ourselves how the money will be divided among staff members. Well, it seems in Ontario, it is a common practice for restaurants to require servers to share their tips and gratuities with their managers and the owners.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Why it is never a good idea to dismiss an employee by email
A human resource person in one of the largest insurance company in the UK mistakenly fired 1,300 global employees in its investment unit by email. The email asked them to turn over their security credentials and company property on their way out and to remember their contractual obligation pertaining to confidential information. Oops! The email was only meant to go to one employee.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor
Federal budget 2012 – don’t forget the Old Age Security changes!
Effective, April 1, 2023, with full implementation by January 2029, the eligibility age for Old Age Security (OAS) is increasing to age 67 from 65 to reflect the reality that Canadians are living longer and healthier lives, and intending to keep working and delay retirement. In line with the increase in age of OAS/GIS eligibility, the ages at which the allowance and the allowance for the survivor are provided will also gradually increase from 60–64 today to 62–66, starting in April 2023.
Marie-Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor