Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy ("CEWS")Prime Minister Justice Trudeau announced another anticipated update to the CEWS yesterday. The requirement of a 30 percent drop in revenue as a result of COVID-19 should be relaxed for the first month, such that an employer can...
Trusted Legal Advisors In The Modern Workplace
Labour And Employment Law
Employment law changes will affect low-wage earners in B.C.
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Oct 1, 2019 | Labour And Employment Law
We have previously written about a number of significant amendments to the British Columbia Employment Standards Act which have come into effect this year. Many of these amendments will affect low-wage earners in BC. The amendment with the most direct effect is a...
How does employment law treat cannabis now that it is legal?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Sep 17, 2019 | Labour And Employment Law
It is almost one year since it became legal to use cannabis in Canada. In April 2019, a director of WorkSafeBC, Tom Brocklehurst, answered some of the questions that both employers and employees have about legal cannabis use in the workplace. One of the frequently...
Employment law: Harassment and bullying no longer in the shadows
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Aug 7, 2019 | Labour And Employment Law
The #MeToo movement brought workplace harassment and bullying to the attention of many. Safety professionals across Canada, including British Columbia, have revealed that bullying and harassment remain some of the most significant workplace hazards. WorkSafeBC was the...
Employment standards violations lead to $310,000 payment to foreign workers
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Jun 11, 2019 | Labour And Employment Law
Employers in British Columbia are legally obligated to comply with employment standards and provide safe work environments. They must always honour workers' rights and protections. Following the disclosure of employment standards violations in a case in which a...
Employment law: What constitutes discriminating advertising?
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | May 28, 2019 | Labour And Employment Law
Employers in British Columbia can land in hot water if they publish discriminating advertisements for job vacancies. Under employment law, the human rights of applicants may not be violated by placing ads that restrict some people from applying. No such advertisement...
Employment law: Independent contractor arrangements
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Oct 16, 2018 | Labour And Employment Law
Many British Columbia business owners choose to use the services of independent contractors instead of employees. There are benefits for both parties with such a work relationship, but there can also be severe consequences if the independent contractor arrangement is...
Human rights violations in the workplace
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Oct 2, 2018 | Labour And Employment Law
Employers' legal obligations to their employees are not limited to meeting workplace standards under the applicable labour or employment legislation. Legal proceedings on the basis of human rights violations in the workplace have grown to comprise a significant part...
The Path To Pay Equity: Part One
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Jun 1, 2018 | Labour And Employment Law
In the age of easily accessed and readily shared information, it should come as no surprise that things that were once considered acceptable have started raising eyebrows. Before employees could access salary information on company review sites or co-workers could...
Employment law, human rights prohibit advertising discrimination
On Behalf of Overholt Law LLP | Apr 10, 2018 | Labour And Employment Law
Employers in British Columbia face many challenges when it comes to the human rights of their employees. Under employment law, unanticipated claims may arise, and because they were not evident at first, employers can find themselves in a tight spot. One of the areas...