OLRB Agrees to Hear Another Harassment Case
The debate continues as to whether the Ontario Labour Relations Board has jurisdiction to hear harassment-reprisal complaints under the Occupational […]
Caselaw Developments
Two company directors jailed 25 days after worker dies, no safety training provided
Rarely are senior corporate officials jailed for health and safety offences in Canada. But recently, two company directors of an […]
Persistent mockery, intimidation of supervisor was “juvenile and unworthy of a 12 year old”, warranted 6-month suspension of long-term employee
An employee’s persistent mockery and intimidating conduct towards a supervisor warranted a 6-month suspension, an arbitrator has held. The employee’s […]
Total fines now $1.24 million in Christmas Eve fatalities after swing stage company and director fined
The total of safety fines paid for the December 24, 2009 swing stage collapse fatalities is now $1,240,000 after Swing […]
“It is not the Board’s role to chase” unrepresented employee: safety-reprisal complaint dismissed
The Canada Industrial Relations Board has dismissed a safety-reprisal complaint where the employee, representing himself, missed deadlines and failed to […]
Alberta employer fined $80,000 following conveyor incident
An Alberta employer has been sentenced to a fine of $80,000 plus the 15% victim fine surcharge following a workplace […]
“Zero tolerance”, automatic suspension approach to safety violations criticized, written warning substituted
Employers are increasingly taking a “zero tolerance” approach in which a minimum level of discipline – whether a suspension or […]
Fake e-mail to other employees results in criminal mischief conviction
An Ontario employee has been convicted of criminal mischief after sending a fake e-mail to fellow employees, degrading another co-worker. […]
Failing to correct hazards, pay OSHA fines gets U.S. business owner taken into custody
An Illinois business owner has been taken into custody after his business failed to correct serious trenching hazards and pay […]
Court considers safety, fatigue of replacement workers in granting picketing injunction
A British Columbia judge has considered an employer’s concerns for the safety of replacement workers, in granting an injunction against […]
“An employee does not necessarily get one free sexual harassment before he loses his job”, says arbitrator in upholding dismissal for Facebook harassment, threats
An arbitrator has upheld the dismissal of a unionized employee for one incident of sexual harassment and threats on Facebook. […]
Trucker who punched customer in the mouth was fired for cause
One would think it self-evident that employees who punch a customer’s employee in the face may be dismissed for just […]