SCC Declares Termination for Impairment in the Workplace Not Discriminatory

Canadian Courts have long wrestled with the protection of human rights in the context of workplace drug and alcohol policies.

April 28, 2017

Random Drug and Alcohol Testing OK For Now at the...

In a recent court case from Ontario, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v Toronto Transit Commission, 2017 ONSC 2078, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 (the “Union”) applied for an injunction to prevent the Toronto Transit Commission (the “TTC”) from implementing random drug and alcohol testing for its employees.

April 26, 2017

Cannabis Legalization: Weeding Out the Regulations

As the Federal Government recently introduced its legislation to legalize and regulate recreational cannabis, it is clear that legalization is now imminent.

November 28, 2016

11 Steps to Minimize Holiday Party Liability

It is time to revisit the topic of Host Liability and what an employer can do to ensure the holiday party is the social event of the year and not a litigation nightmare.

November 23, 2016

Serious and Temporarily Disabling Injuries Satisfy Definition of Minor Personal...

In the decision of Douthwright v. Duffy, 2015 NBQB 224, the 43 year old Douthwright was injured in a serious roll-over accident. Liability was admitted, but the parties differed on damages.

November 17, 2016

Dismissal Following Positive Drug Test Excessive form of Discipline, Alberta...

A recent arbitration decision from Alberta tackles a myriad of issues related to a positive post incident drug test.

Medicinal Monday to Fridays: When Employees Are Under the Influence...

The recent arbitration decision, Unifor, Local 2001 NB v Old Dutch Foods Ltd, 2016 CanLII 61672 (NB LA) Arbitrator Doucet addresses the emerging topic of managing medical marijuana in the workplace, combined with searches of personal employee property.

October 25, 2016

Employee’s Failure to Disclose Medical Marijuana Use a Factor in...

A recent labour arbitration decision out of Newfoundland and Labrador considers the obligation of employees to disclose medical marijuana use in safety-sensitive workplaces.

December 10, 2015

Can An Employer Require That a Candidate Undergo Pre-employment Drug...

The law of drug and alcohol testing in Canada is in a state of evolution. While the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 30 v Irving Pulp & Paper Ltd., 2013 SCC 34, provided important guidance on the strict standard that employers must meet in order to subject employees to random testing, it raised many questions regarding how those principles would be applied to other forms of testing.

11 Steps to Minimize Employer Liability at the Holiday Party

It is time to revisit the topic of Host Liability and what an employer can do to ensure the holiday party is the social event of the year and not a litigation nightmare.