Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER January 25, 2016 20 FEATURES Credit: Mark Blinch (Reuters) in A new twist on executive compensation Putting a new spin on the issue of executive compensation, Dan Price, founder and CEO of Seattle-based Gravity Payments, slashed his own salary from just under US$1 million per year to US$70,000 — while raising the minimum salary for his 120 employees to the same amount (from an average of US$48,000). But later news stories suggested the move led to way too many job applicants, along with disgruntled employee departures — and the possibility Price was signifi cantly overpaid in the fi rst place. Way off Target In January, U.S.-based retail chain Target made the surprising announcement it was closing its Canadian outlets, putting 17,600 employees out of work. e exit included a minimum of 16 weeks' compensation for workers, apparently backed by a $70-million promise in the form of an employee trust. Ontario proposes sexual harassment legislation Ontario was set to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act to include: a defi nition of workplace sexual harassment, enhanced requirements regarding work placement harassment programs, and specifi c employer duties to protect workers from harassment — including appropriate investigations. Otherwise, an employer could be ordered to conduct an investigation, at its expense, by an impartial, experienced third party. 'Revealing' dress code in spotlight Negative publicity around an unpopular dress code for women working at the Bier Markt led the restaurant chain to withdraw its policy, but raised the question: If it's clearly a discriminatory practice, should others in the hospitality and service industry follow suit? Alberta looks to boost hiring With the dramatic decline in oil prices, job prospects in the Western province fell to desperate lows, with mass layoff s regularly announced by aff ected employers. In January, the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors predicted employment in the oil patch could be down by 23,000 direct and indirect jobs. So Alberta's government launched a Job Creation Incentive Program to boost hiring by giving employers grants up to $5,000 for each new job, with employers eligible for up to $500,000 in total support. But critics questioned the eff ectiveness and necessity of such a program. Credit: Todd Korol (Reuters) Interns unused, unpaid e federal government faced uncomfortable questions about its use of unpaid interns and the small number who went on to gain permanent employment afterwards. While various departments had used a reported 961 unpaid interns since 2008, only 22 were hired on after, according to one MP. Is on-call on the way out? Fairer scheduling practices, advance notice of shifts and guaranteed minimums for work hours were among the recommendations from advocates in the United States when it came to changes in the retail and hospitality sectors — and the issue could gain traction in Canada. 'Bruising workplace' stirs up debate Outlining the "bruising workplace" of online retailer Amazon, a story in the New York Times detailed the unrelenting pace, late hours and secrecy of its work environment. While some praised the no-nonsense approach, others were quick to condemn such practices, saying a supportive culture made more sense. By Sarah Dobson Credit: Ken Wolter (Shutterstock) Credit: CityNews Toronto the year that was Off -duty conduct in spotlight again A Hydro One employee found himself in trouble in the spring when he was captured on live TV defending derogatory comments made by another man towards a female news reporter. Shawn Simoes (above) was subsequently fi red from his $106,000-a-year job — and then ordered back to work by an arbitrator in the fall. But taking back a fi red employee can make for an awkward situation for everyone involved, said the experts. Credit: CityNews Toronto Rachel Notley, premier of Alberta

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