Employment Law Issues (9:V)
Use this section to identify any potential issues the employee might have. Note that this section is geared towards identifying the most common employment law issues for provincially regulated non-unionized employees (see Section III: Preliminary Matters to determine whether the worker in question is a provincially regulated non-unionized employee). However, many issues will apply in a similar fashion to federally regulated employees, and some issues will also apply to unionized employees.
Generally, employment issues arise as a breach of the Human Rights Code, the Employment Standards Act, or an employment contract. Take note of which of these legal protections applies for the issue that you identify, and then see Section V: Remedies to find out how to proceed. A.Common Employment Law Issues 1.Discrimination in Employment For provincially regulated employees, the Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of the following prohibited grounds (ss 13, 43): Race Colour Ancestry Place of Origin Political Belief Marital Status Family Status Physical or Mental Disability Sex (this includes sexual harassment, and discrimination based on pregnancy or transgendered status) Sexual Orientation Age (only those over 19 years of age are protected by this provision) The person was convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or to the intended employment of that person The person complains or is named in a complaint, gives evidence, or otherwise assists in a complaint or other proceeding under the HRCThis prohibition against discrimination in employment includes discrimination in the hiring process, in the terms and conditions of employment, and in decisions to terminate employment. Employment agencies also must not refuse to refer a person for employment based on one of the prohibited grounds for discrimination. Trade unions, employer’s organizations, and occupational associations cannot discriminate against people by excluding, expelling or suspending them from membership (s 14).There must be no discrimination in wages paid (s 12). Men and women must receive equal pay for similar or substantially similar work. Similarity is to be determined having regard to the skill, effort, and responsibility required by a job. Family status protection includes childcare and family obligations. See Johnstone v Canada Border Services (2010 CHRT 20).
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