Can employers in Canada refuse to hire smokers?
Recently, an Ottawa-based tech company called Momentous Corp. has attracted national attention because it implemented a blanket policy against hiring smokers and advertises that it will hire non-smokers only. In order to reduce its health costs, Momentous prohibits the hiring of or allowing any smoking on its property during working hours…
Simon Heath, BA, MIR, LLB, Heath Law
2 minutes read
June 17, 2013 
Understanding the rights of pregnant employees in Ontario
Pregnant employees or those employees intending to become pregnant, enjoy significant protection under various provincial and federal statutes. This article will explore the protections provided by the Ontario Human Rights Code, Employment Standards Act, and the Employment Insurance Act.
Earl Altman
Understanding and addressing crime in the workplace
This column will address the increasingly important subject of crime in the workplace. A review of news headlines across Canada on any given day shows the sheer prevalence and harmful impact of work-related crime. Organizations have a moral and legal obligation to understand the crime threats they face and to take diligent steps in managing crime and security risks.
David Hyde
‘If you see something, say something’ in the workplace
It’s been a month marred by violence and disruption. In recent days we have witnessed the troubling arrests of alleged terrorists in Toronto and Montreal, the heinous Boston Marathon Bombing, a violent takeover robbery and double-shooting at a Toronto bank, the assault of a Port Coquitlam, BC security guard, and sexual assaults at a Toronto community college to name a few. Each of these incidents had (or would have had) an impact on the workplace.
David Hyde
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
Must vacation time be given in consecutive weeks?
Does your vacation policy require employees to take time off in consecutive weeks? What does the law say? The answer: it depends on the jurisdiction.
Christina Catenacci, BA, LLB, LLM, PhD
British Columbia Court of Appeal concludes employee’s conduct in workplace interpersonal conflict justified just cause for termination
Workplace personality conflicts are becoming all too common in the Canadian workplace given the heightened sensitivity to workplace harassment. With growing frequency, employees are raising concerns about how they are treated by senior management. However, what happens if an employee crosses the line between a legitimate concern to undermining the very essence of the employment relationship?
Simon Heath, BA, MIR, LLB, Heath Law
Can you require employees to speak English?
Can you require employees to speak English? As always, the answer to this question is “yes”, “no” and “it depends”.
Michele Glassford
