Ending a professional relationship with an employee can be a challenging aspect of managing a business. There can be significant legal risks if proper protocol is not followed in ending a person’s employment. British Columbia employers should act carefully to avoid a...
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Employment Law
How does severance pay work and when is it required?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Sep 23, 2022 | Employment Law
Severance pay is a form of compensation provided to an employee by their employer when the employee's employment is terminated without cause (i.e., no fault of their own) and adequate notice of termination is not provided to the employee. The employee must have...
How employee stress can lead to legal issues for employers
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Sep 14, 2022 | Employment Law
Most people are familiar with the negative impacts that stress can have on individual workers. Stress can result in health issues, cause turmoil in one's personal life and greatly impact workplace performance. However, employees are not the only ones who may face...
Types of background checks and legal considerations
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Aug 30, 2022 | Employment Law
When hiring, it is understandable that employers want to know certain important information about the background of candidates, such as their criminal, work or credit history. However, it is important that those hiring in British Columbia follow employment laws and,...
Are employers liable for injuries when working from home?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Aug 2, 2022 | Employment Law
The COVID‑19 pandemic has made remote work the “new normal". The increase of remote work in British Columbia and worldwide has led to many important discussions regarding the rights of remote workers and employers' corresponding obligations. An important question that...
Common employment law concerns in the manufacturing sector
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Jul 12, 2022 | Employment Law
While the laws governing employers are often the same across sectors, different industries are likely to face their own unique challenges. For example, laws about workplace safety may be particularly relevant to a construction firm, while a business dependent on...
Why is it so important to have a written employment agreement?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Jul 5, 2022 | Employment Law
British Columbia business owners are often busy with a range of priorities such as cash flow and making the next sale. When a promising new employee comes around, it can be tempting to quickly onboard the individual through a “handshake deal” and skip certain...
Employers have control over workplace safety
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | May 31, 2022 | Employment Law
Work-related injuries could happen unexpectedly and could create a stressful situation for the injured worker and their employer. It could contribute missed shifts at work, and could bring production to a halt. In addition to the natural concern for the welfare of...
City of Kamloops employee complaint dismissed
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | May 10, 2022 | Employment Law
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal recently heard a complaint from an employee of the City of Kamloops (the "City"). The complainant, an employee who was also the son of a former councillor, claimed that he had been discriminated against on the basis of his...
Can an employee be fired for drug or alcohol addiction?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Apr 19, 2022 | Employment Law
After a stressful week at work, many employees enjoy a drink or two. Some may even use recreational drugs on their days off. However, when substance use becomes an addiction, should this affect the security of one’s job? Under British Columbia law, does an employer...