Author Archive

The Perils of Probationary Periods

Employers frequently misunderstand their obligations when dismissing probationary employees.

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Major Changes to Employment Standards Are Coming

Significant revisions to the British Columbia Employment Standards Act that purport to impact nearly all workplaces in British Columbia are scheduled to come into force shortly.

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Family Status Discrimination Test Affirmed by BC Court of Appeal

The British Columbia Court of Appeal recently affirmed that the test for assessing discrimination in employment on the basis of family status differs from other protected grounds.

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New Employer Health Tax Comes Into Force

British Columbia’s new Employer Health Tax came into force on January 1, 2019.

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Weed at Work: What Are Your Rights?

Consumption of recreational cannabis will be legal as of October 17th. While some Canadians are rejoicing, many businesses are understandably nervous.

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Colin Edstrom Presenting “Navigating Workers’ Compensation Claims”

Pushor Mitchell lawyer Colin Edstrom will be giving a presentation on “Navigating Workers’ Compensation Claims.”

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Summary of Recent Changes to Workplace Laws in BC

British Columbia has had a new provincial government since July 2017. Over the past 10 months, the John Horgan government has revised or sought to revise various workplace laws.

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Minimum Wage to Increase by 34% over Four Years

Premier John Horgan recently announced that the minimum wage rate in British Columbia will rise to $15 per hour by 2021

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SCC Confirms that Human Rights Code Applies to Employees Who Do Not Share the Same Employer

The British Columbia Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in employment.

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Pushor Mitchell lawyers Colin Edstrom and Patrick Bobyn presenting “Non-Profits and the Law” for the Canadian Society of Executives

Colin Edstrom and Patrick Bobyn will be giving a presentation on "Non-Profits and the Law" for the Canadian Society of Association Executives on November 16, 2017.

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Think Twice when Dismissing an Employee Prior to the First Day of Work

Most employers are aware of the obligation to provide an employee with notice of termination or pay in lieu of notice.

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“I Quit!” Does Not Always Mean “I Quit”

Employees who voluntarily resign from their employment cannot successfully sue their employers for wrongful dismissal.

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British Columbia to Reinstate Human Rights Commission

The provincial government recently announced plans to reinstate the British Columbia Human Rights Commission following a 15 year hiatus.

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Defamation and Reference Checks

Reference checks can put former employers in an awkward position. Employers want to tell the truth but may be concerned about the potential legal consequences of providing a bad reference.

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Court of Appeal Provides Clarity on Aggravated Damages Flowing from Wrongful Dismissal

A recent case from our Court of Appeal articulates the standard required to establish an entitlement to aggravated damages resulting from a wrongful dismissal.

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Withholding a $300,000 Bonus not a Constructive Dismissal

A recent case out of Ontario illustrates that not all refusals to pay an employee’s compensation amount to a constructive dismissal, even if the amount owing is over $300,000.

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Alberta to Overhaul Workplace Rules for First Time in Almost 30 Years

The Alberta government recently introduced a bill to modernize Alberta’s workplace laws entitled the Fair Family-Friendly Workplaces Act.

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Provincial Government Bans Mandatory High Heels in Workplaces

The provincial government recently amended the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation to ban the practice of requiring employees to wear high heels in the workplace.

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