Sure News™
Bill 168 – Curbing Workplace Violence and Harassment
Ehren Baldauf
Human Resources
Workplace violence and harassment are a very real hazard in today’s workplace. In 2004 Statistics Canada reported that over 356,000 acts of violent victimization (robbery, physical and sexual assault etc.) occurred at the victims’ place of work. Statistics Canada further reported that between the years 2001 and 2005 and average of 14 employees were killed each year on the job across Canada. These statistics are alarming and in response, the provincial government undertook the development of legislation that would strive to prevent workplace violence and harassment.
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Canada Revenue Agency Revises Retiring Allowance Reporting
Gerry Kinna
Human Resources
Employers who have paid a retiring allowance to an employee in the 2010 taxation year should be aware that the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has recently issued revised reporting requirements.
Beginning with 2010 reporting, employers will be required to use the T4 slip instead of the T4A slip to report eligible and non-eligible retiring allowances paid to terminating employees.
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Reduced Benefit Coverage at 65 Allowable in Ontario
Gerry Kinna
Human Resources
As originally reported in a 2007 newsletter, Ontario’s Human Rights Code was amended late in 2006 to remove the upper age limit of 65, effectively preventing employers in the province from forcing employees to retire at age 65. However, employers were still allowed to differentiate on the basis of age in their benefit plans provided that the plans are in compliance with the province’s Employment Standards Act and its regulations which permit employers to make age-based distinctions, such as the level of benefits they provide or whether benefits will be provided at all, with respect to employees aged 65 and older.
This position was recently reinforced by an Ontario arbitrator who ruled that an employer can continue to reduce or even eliminate employee benefits once the employee reaches age 65.
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Employee Training
Melissa Simpson
Human Resources
We all know that investing in our business is extremely important but what about investing in our human capital? Studies show that staff who experience opportunities to develop their skills through training at their place of work stay at their place of work. With the average cost of replacing staff rising well over the $5000 mark, retention of our staff makes clear financial sense.
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Personal Protective Equipment Enforcement Blitz
Candace Robitaille
Human Resources
The Ministry of Labour will be conducting an enforcement blitz at various workplaces in October. The inspectors will be focusing primarily on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in health care and industrial workplaces in Ontario. They will look primarily at eye, head and foot protection and protection for falls, respiratory, skin and hearing. They will also be on the lookout for other safety hazards which may need to be addressed.
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AODA….Are you in compliance?
Krista Warkus
Human Resources
Big or small, attracting every potential client is crucial to any size business. Improving access to your goods and services for customers with varying abilities and needs can help you increase your customer base and your bottom line. Being accessible to customers with disabilities isn’t just the proper thing to do; it’s now the law!
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Family Caregiver Leave - Bill 30
Nicole Vaillancourt
Human Resources
The McGuinty Government introduced the Family Caregiver Leave - Bill 30 to Ontario parliament in December 2011. If passed, Family Caregiver Leave would entitle employees to take up to eight weeks of unpaid job protected leave to provide care and support to a sick or injured family member. The leave would be in addition to the up to eight weeks allowable for Family Medical Leave and the ten days of Personal Emergency Leave.
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Recent Changes to Legislation
DiBrina Sure Human Resources
Human Resources
New Mandatory Health and Safety Poster Required in Ontario
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act) requires that employers post a copy of the Act, both in English and the majority language of the workplace at all work locations in Ontario. In addition to posting the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers in Ontario must now also post the new workplace poster that was released by the Ministry of Labour on June 1, 2012.
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