Employers in British Columbia and other provinces in Canada might be interested in a recent Supreme Court ruling in connection with the rights of dismissed employees to bonuses under employment law. The ruling followed a case that involved an employee who claimed benefits and bonus pay after he was forced to resign.

British Columbia employers are bound by human rights laws to accommodate workers with disabilities. Employment law also mandates that employers may not base appointments or discharges upon an employee's disability.

It is not uncommon for disputes to arise about employees' eligibility for payment for travel time. Employment law regarding travel time can be complicated. Therefore, British Columbia employers are advised to draft a company policy that includes information about travel time in the employment contracts when new staff members are appointed.

There are many different forms of discrimination that can exist in the workplace. You could experience discrimination based on personal characteristics - such as your age, race or gender. Discrimination can also be identified through unequal opportunities or disciplinary actions.

Before starting a manufacturing plant in British Columbia, business owners must familiarize themselves with certain labour laws. In Canada, many matters related to human rights, health, safety and employment fall within the province's jurisdiction.

Drug testing happens before and during many jobs throughout the country. While such tests may seem straightforward, the results aren't always as cut and dried as you might think.

Employees in British Columbia are protected against discrimination. For those employed by organizations falling within federal labour jurisdiction, the Canadian Human Rights Act prevents discrimination or harassment based on race, age, sex, religion, sexual orientation or other protected grounds.

When British Columbia employers conduct job interviews, they must take care to avoid discriminatory inquiries. Broadly speaking, employers may not ask prospective employees questions about any of protected grounds under the BC Human Rights Code.

Employees in British Columbia who are concerned about how their employers handle their personal information might have questions about their legal rights. According to privacy laws, employers may not share personal information with other employees.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal within minutes. Any workplace where fuel-powered engines run could be a hazardous area where employees could be overwhelmed by this deadly gas.

Nowadays, the world lives on social media. More and more people get their news from platforms like Facebook and Twitter than ever before. If you need to spread the word about an upcoming event or opportunity, utilizing social media seems like a logical place to start.

WorkSafeBC recently announced updates to safety protocols for residential construction work. It released a new publication - entitled Safe Work Practices for Residential Construction - as well as a Notice of Project (NOP) postcard.

Employees in British Columbia who are federally regulated under the Canada Labour Code may be unaware that, under specific circumstances, they may refuse to work overtime. What are those circumstances?

While conducting your annual performance reviews, one of your employees raises a concern about another colleague’s harassing behavior. How should you respond? How do you know whether it’s a serious problem or just hearsay?

British Columbia workers have the right to safe work environments, but that's not all. Under occupational health and safety legislation across Canada -- as exemplified in BC's Workers' Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation -- three main rights of employees include the right to know, the right to participate and the right to refuse dangerous work.

As the temperatures increase, so do summer-related workplace hazards. Canadian employees, both those who work indoors and out, should be aware of seasonal risks.

After reaching full maturity at about 25 years, the body starts to undergo slow changes. The changes are typically only noticeable between 40 and 50 years of age. An older worker's years of experience might make him or her less likely to suffer a workplace injury. However, older workers may take longer to recover if a workplace injury occurs.

Workplace injury statistics show that an average of one million occupational injuries and illnesses are reported across the country each year, including in British Columbia. Safety authorities say almost every workplace injury is preventable, and approximately 10% of work-related accidents lead to brain injuries.

Big rig drivers face health and safety hazards each day. Commercial vehicle operators in British Columbia haul their loads across the country, and risk workplace injury and illness. For many truckers, their vehicles are also their homes, where they work, sleep and eat.

Employees who believe they are victims of pay equity violations might have questions about their legal rights. Under the Canada Human Rights Act, which applies to employees working for federally regulated employers such as banks, airlines, Crown corporations, and other organizations, there are express provisions requiring pay equity in the workplace.