Everyone is imbued with the holiday spirit this time of year. Everyone it seems, except our large corporate employers. In our experience during the festive season, precisely 6 weeks before the end of the year, more pink slips are handed out than any other period in the calendar year. They fly out like confetti at a Santa Clause parade. So once again we note, t’is the season to be fired.
Cannabis use is legal in Canada for recreational and medical use. With no employment laws in place specifically addressing its use, employers have filled the gap with workplace policies. If you are a user, then you should understand the law enough to navigate the matter because some workplace policies are sparking heated debates.
Ontario’s economy is changing. Workplaces are less secure, with part-time and contract jobs on the rise. The government passed sweeping changes to our employment laws to address this trend and provide workers with more rights. Bill 148 legislation becomes effective on January 1, 2018. What changes for you as a worker in this new Ontario economy?
Canadian physicians are prescribing marijuana with increasing frequency for pain, disability and chronic illness. Accordingly, with easier access, could workplaces encounter more cases of marijuana intoxication? Under our current laws, your employer can fire you for being intoxicated on duty. But the matter is not clear cut with medical marijuana. In this case, your employer must treat it like any other prescription drug.
Employment contracts are important documents that govern an employment relationship. Similarly, termination agreements set out your compensation terms when the relationship ends. Employers generally hold a lot of power when drafting them. However, employees can legally expect a duty of honesty and fair play when negotiating the terms.
Work life balance is the need to equalize the amount of time you spend at work and in your personal life. Legally, your employer has limits on how far they can encroach on your personal time and family commitments.