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Workplace accident takes the life of British Columbia man
Employees who have spent decades on the job often become known and loved by many co-workers and customers. They may also be the ones younger, less experienced workers turn to for help and advice.
Supreme Court of Canada rules for federally regulated employee
On July 14, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered its highly anticipated decision interpreting the Canada Labour Code's provisions prohibiting unjust dismissal of nonunionized federally regulated employees.
Media employer answers executive's wrongful dismissal lawsuit
Last week, we discussed a recent wrongful dismissal claim filed in British Columbia Supreme Court by the former executive of a Vancouver-based social media company.
BC executive files wrongful dismissal lawsuit
Business In Vancouver is reporting that a former member of executive leadership in a Vancouver social media company has filed a lawsuit against his former employer for wrongful dismissal.
Will Canada ban genetic discrimination in employment?
Genetic testing is becoming more common. As this scientific field develops, testing methods and options continue to advance and can provide both interesting and important information about ancestry and medical conditions that are genetically linked.
Penticton BC fire chief files suit alleging wrongful dismissal
The CBC reports that a former fire chief from Penticton in southern British Columbia has brought a lawsuit alleging wrongful dismissal by his former city employer. The 56-year-old plaintiff filed the action in the BC Supreme Court claiming that he was dismissed from his employment while he was on short-term disability and receiving workers' compensation for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from work-related trauma.
Unsafe working conditions alleged in Fort McMurray fire cleanup
A story has surfaced in the BC media of allegations that safety may have been compromised for workers hired to clean ash that was generated in the Fort McMurray wild fires. The allegations of one employee from BC are of great concern.
Vancouver firefighter alleges race discrimination and harassment
The CBC reports that a 33-year-old man of El Salvadoran heritage who has lived in Canada since he was a boy has filed a human rights complaint with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal alleging employment discrimination and harassment based on race in his former job as a Vancouver firefighter.
Introduction to section 13 of the BC Human Rights Code
The British Columbia Human Rights Code (the "Code") forbids discrimination in employment based on certain protected employee characteristics. Employees in BC who believe that they are the victim of employment discrimination may file a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal, a administrative tribunal which has exclusive jurisdiction over hearing human rights matters that arise in BC at first instance.
BC Supreme Court decides workers' compensation bullying claim
On May 25, 2016, the Supreme Court of British Columbia rendered a decision in a workers' compensation case that is getting media attention in the Vancouver area.
BC tribunal finds human rights violations by police employer
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has sided with a Victoria police officer and his claims that the Victoria Police Department, his employer, interfered with his right to express his political beliefs as guaranteed under the BC Human Rights Code. The Canadian Press reported that the officer was awarded $20,000 on five of his eight claims for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect.
Discrimination alleged for BC maternity benefit clawback
A BC woman has filed a human rights complaint after the BC government clawed back her maternity and parental benefits in order to reimburse the province for her partner's disability payments.
BC bill introduced to make gender identity a protected class
On April 27, BC MLA Spender Chandra Herbert introduced a bill in the Legislative Assembly that would add gender identity and gender expression to the characteristics protected against discrimination in employment.
RCMP settles sexual harassment suit brought by BC Mountie
A 49-year-old British Columbia Mountie awaiting trial in a highly publicized lawsuit she filed four years ago against the RCMP for sexual harassment in the workplace has had her matter settled out of court.
Pay equity for women in the federally-regulated employment sector
Federal laws require that women get pay equal to that of men for work of equal value within any federally-regulated employer of any size. The Government of Canada website defines pay equity between the genders…
Vancouver bus drivers' contract negotiation at critical stage
Almost 100 percent of the 4,700 unionized Vancouver-area transit workers employed by TransLink subsidiary Coast Mountain Bus voted late Thursday to support a strike in stalled contract negotiations.
Privacy rights and employer concerns in the BC workplace
The BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association, known as FIPA, is a public interest group that promotes Canadian privacy rights, including those applicable to employees in the workplace.
Suggestive uniforms for female restaurant workers may violate human rights
A recent article from CBC news suggests that some legal experts believe that requiring female restaurant staff to wear suggestive clothing while working may be a violation of Canadian human rights laws. As an example, the article cites a 2001 BC Human Rights Tribunal decision in which a female employee of a Vancouver restaurant refused to wear a bikini top to serve beverages at a Hawaiian-themed party.
What happens when workers no longer want to be in a union?
For many individuals in British Columbia, unions play an important role in governing their labour relations. Unions represent workers in various occupations, in labour matters and among other things…
Employment discrimination during the hiring phase
Workplace discrimination can take many different forms and can be based on a variety of prohibited grounds including race, gender and religion. While many who experience…