January 13, 2014
Top 10 Blogs
Bad year for BlackBerry
TOP 10 BLOGS ON HRREPORTER.COM
1. Vacation time pay and myths, by Stuart Rudner
2. Overtime risks and misconceptions, by Stuart Rudner
3. Providing a doctor's note – eventually, by Jeffrey R. Smith
4. Language in the workplace, by Brian Kreissl
5. HR's responsibility for occupational health and safety, by
Brian Kreissl
6. Why would I want to work in HR? by Brian Kreissl
7. Severance pay can't be cut, by Jeffrey R. Smith
8. Dangers of fixed-term contracts, by Stuart Rudner
9. How to calculate overtime for salaried employees in
Ontario, by Alan McEwen
10. Who's the Yahoo who banned working at home? by
Todd Humber
at both retail giants stepped
up and offered an explanation
and some clarification in a
guest commentary. It was
refreshing candour from top HR
professionals.
To test or not to test
The dust settled, somewhat, on
the random drug and alcohol
testing debate. An Irving paper
mill in New Brunswick lost a fight
with its union to conduct random
alcohol testing because there
simply wasn't enough evidence
to suggest there was a problem
— there had been eight incidents
of consumption or impairment
at the mill in the 15 years leading
up to 2006, but no associated
accidents or even near misses.
However, the Supreme Court of
Canada did not completely close
the door on testing — it may be
justified in workplaces where
there is a real problem.
Canadian
experience taboo
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guarantee of anything, really."
Mental health 'bible'
overhauled
The boringly named Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (DSM) was
revised. Despite its title, DSM5 caught the attention of HR
professionals. The manual,
used by employers, arbitrators,
insurers, workers' compensation
boards and more, included new
disorders that raised concerns
it would "medicalize a lot of
normal human emotions and
human behaviour." That could
lead to more requests for
accommodation and higher
benefit costs for employers.
Interns – to pay
or not to pay
A weak youth job market,
combined with the death of a
Work at home? No way
The Ontario Human Rights
Commission called for an end to
companies asking for "Canadian
experience" in job postings,
unless there's a really good reason
for it. The commission called the
requirement a shield for outright
discrimination and said it was "no
Canada's technology darling had a
trying year in 2013, with BlackBerry
shedding thousands of jobs as its
attempt to turn the company around
floundered despite the introduction
of a new operating system and new
phones, including the Q10 and Z10.
Shedding so many workers posed
challenges, creating morale issues
after word of layoffs was leaked to
the media before employees
themselves knew. There
has to be a better way
to handle job cuts,
right?
Credit: SGM/Shutterstock
young Alberta intern who worked
long hours, sparked a call for
changes around unpaid interns
and debate around whether
employers that don't pay interns
were being immoral or breaking
the law. The general rule is if the
internship is part of a school
curriculum, the employer is OK
not to pay — but in other cases
the interns should be paid.
such as large crosses, turbans
and burkas would be outlawed
under the "Charter of Values."
The state "must be neutral," the
province argued. But others saw it
as outright racism and one clever
hospital in Oshawa, Ont., ran
ads featuring a woman wearing a
hijab, with the tagline "We don't
care what's on your head. We care
what's in it."
B.C. goes after bullies
HRPA gets its bill
British Columbia unveiled
new health and safety rules
designed to eliminate workplace
bullying and harassment after
a spike in psychological injury
claims. WorkSafeBC released
a toolkit to help employers,
including developing a policy
and implementing procedures
for reporting and dealing with
incidents and complaints.
The third time was the charm
for the Human Resources
Professionals Association
(HRPA) as the Ontario legislature
passed Bill 32, the Registered
Human Resources Professionals
Association Act. The first time
the bill was introduced in 2011,
we heard a lot of outcry from
HR professionals. (That bill died
when an election was called.)
The second time, in 2012, the
criticism was more muted. (That
bill died when former premier
Dalton McGuinty resigned
and prorogued parliament.) By
the time Bill 32 came about in
2013, we didn't hear a whimper
of dissent. Neither did the
legislature, which passed the
bill unanimously. How the bill
changes the HR profession will be
a story we'll be watching closely
in 2014.
Quebec moves to ban
religious symbols
Quebec caused a stir when
it announced plans to ban
the wearing of "ostentatious"
religious symbols by workers on
the government payroll. Items
Walmart workers
reject union
A decade-long battle to unionize
a Walmart store in Weyburn,
Sask., came to an end with the
retail giant victorious. Workers
voted to unionize but the United
Food and Commercial Workers
union was unable to reach a first
agreement and a move was put
forward to decertify. The Supreme
Court of Canada refused to block
the vote, but the union vowed
to continue its fight to unionize
other Walmart workers.
Credit: Jeff Haynes (Reuters)
Credit: Andy Clark (Reuters)
Flood waters gather around the
Saddledome Arena, home to the
Calgary Flames, after the Bow
River overflowed its banks.
Yahoo's new CEO, Marissa
Mayer, issued an edict that
banned working from home for
employees at the tech company.
"Some of the best decisions and
insights come from hallway and
cafeteria discussions," read a
memo attributed to Jacqueline
Reses, head of HR.
Credit: Stephen Lam
(Reuters)
Alberta shines in flood
Alberta was hit with devastating, historic floods and downtown Calgary looked like abandoned swampland
as business continuity plans were put to the test. By all accounts, employers and residents got more than a
passing grade — pulling together and recovering quickly in an impressive show of solidarity. They even pulled
off the legendary Calgary Stampede, just two weeks after the grounds were submerged. Canadians were
impressed.
Rob Ford: Enough said
Toronto's crack-smoking mayor brought a global spotlight
to Canada's largest city — but not in a good way. His
denials and bizarre behaviour caught the attention
of late-night comics in the United States, who filled
countless hours of airtime chronicling his missteps.
But few in Canada's largest city were laughing, and HR
professionals were left scratching their heads at how
he was allowed to get away with his behaviour, which
never would have been tolerated in the
private sector.
Credit: Mark Blinch (Reuters)
TOP 10 VIDEOS ON HRREPORTER.COM
1. Hiring for culture fit at Lululemon Athletica
2. Strategic recruitment trends for 2013
3. How compensation contributes to WestJet's culture
4. 2013 Best Workplaces in Canada awards
5. 10 best practices of the employee benefits industry
6. Encouraging diversity in the workplace: HR's role
7. Employee communications at Starbucks
8. Total rewards at Holt Renfrew
9. Overcoming generational issues in the workplace
10. Finning International's new approach to leadership
