Labour and Employment Law Blog

As we have previously blogged about here, the British Columbia Labour Relations Code (the “Code”) which governs labour relations in unionized workplaces, was recently amended effective May 30, 2019. The amendments included placing narrower restrictions on employer speech in respect of labour relations issues.

Between 2002 and the recent amendment, section 8 of ...

Effective May 30, 2019, the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Code have been amended. You can read about the amendments in our previous blog posts – click here to read about changes to the Employment Standards Act, and here to read about changes to the Labour Relations Code.

Please also note that the minimum wage in British Columbia increased on June 1, 2019 to ...

On April 29, 2019, Labour Minister Harry Bains introduced in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for first reading Bill 8, the Employment Standards Amendment Act, 2019. If passed into law, Bill 8 will be the first major revision of the Employment Standards Act (the "ESA") in about 15 years.

Bill 8 introduces a number of changes to the ESA. Notably, the proposed ...

Nitrogen Studios, the Vancouver animation firm behind the animated film Sausage Party, was recently ordered by the BC Employment Standards Branch to pay overtime pay to non-unionized animators on the basis that its employees did not fall within the “high technology professional” exemption in the Employment Standards Regulation. The animators claimed that they ...

We previously reported changes to Ontario’s Employment Standards legislation. Some of those changes are now being undone by Bill 47.

Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act, 2018, received Royal Assent on November 21, 2018, marking a significant change to Ontario’s labour and employment law landscape. The new legislation represents the provincial ...

The holiday season is approaching, and many employees will be taking well-earned vacation. It is a good time for a refresher on statutory vacation requirements under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act (the "Act").

British Columbia employers must give employees who are subject to the Act both vacation time off of work and vacation pay.

Vacation Time

Employers ...

A Manitoban plaintiff has filed a class action lawsuit against the homegrown delivery service company, Skip the Dishes, reviving the debate over whether contractors for online services are truly independent contractors or are actually employees entitled to protection under employment standards legislation. Skip the Dishes operates an Uber-style online service that ...

In our June 28 blog post, we wrote about calculating holidays and holiday pay for employees working in British Columbia who are entitled to holiday pay. With Labour Day approaching, we thought we would revisit the topic.  

Did you know that there are many employees who do not have any entitlement to statutory holidays under the British Columbia Employment Standards Act

For the first time in over two decades, an independent review of the Employment Standards Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 113 (the "Act"), is underway.  The review is being conducted by the British Columbia Law Institute's Employment Standards Act Reform Project (the "Project").  The Ministry of Labour is a participant observer in the Project.  Given the ministry's involvement, it is ...

Many savvy employers incorporate probation clauses into employment agreements with new employees. Courts have recognized the legitimacy of such clauses, which have the effect of putting the employee on notice that the employee's performance is being evaluated and that the employee must satisfactorily pass the probationary period if the employee is to continue ...