CONTROLLING SEASONAL PARTY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
It’s that time of year when good boys and girls start looking ahead to receiving gifts and their parents anticipate the seasonal office party. Controlling alcohol consumption at those parties substantially increases the odds of parents, and their employer, having a happy and healthy holiday season. Read More Read More
HOOKERS AND THE WORKPLACE MAY NOT BE A GOOD MIX
A newspaper headline last week read, “German Company Rewards Employees With Hooker Party”. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems pretty obvious that prostitutes and the workplace aren’t likely to be a good mix. Read More Read More
BLURRING THE LINE BETWEEN CONTRACTORS AND EMPLOYEES
Last week, I wrote about changes to the Employment Insurance system which blur the traditional line separating independent contractors from employees. A review of recent decisions in other forums suggests Read More Read More
SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW IN WORKPLACE SAFETY
March 25, 2011 will mark 100 years since the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire galvanized a movement for social justice. To some, 100 years will seem like a long time but, to others, it may seem like time has barely passed. Read More Read More
DO YOU CONSENT TO VIOLENCE AT WORK?
If asked, “Do you consent to being assaulted at work?” the great majority of employees would undoubtedly answer, “No.” In some workplaces, however, violence is just part of the game. Perhaps the most high profile setting is professional sports, with hockey being a prime example. We may not tend to think of professional athletes when we’re considering the rules of employment... Read More
PARANOIA, PANDEMONIUM, AND PANDEMICS
Of all the topics human resources professionals have to wrestle with, none is more compelling at the moment than the H1N1 flu pandemic. It presents, at least potentially, a workplace dilemma which few companies have experience in solving. The challenge faced by employers is in deciding how to address a situation which has the potential to temporarily decimate their work force. ... Read More
PARTY TIME MEANS LIMITING ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
It’s that time of year, when office parties abound, when we re-visit the risks posed by holiday office parties. Approaching those events with forethought is a good strategy for avoiding the negative impact that alcohol consumption by employees can have. The first aspect to address is the risk of injury to an employee – or someone else – as a result of alcohol consumption.... Read More
PROTECTING LATE NIGHT RETAIL EMPLOYEES
According to WorkSafeBC, robbers do not select their targets randomly but, instead, consider environmental factors in choosing which stores to rob (they tend to choose targets which reduce the risk of being caught and which present the greatest reward). Businesses can, therefore, reduce their risk of robbery by eliminating those characteristics which make their site attractive... Read More
ALCOHOL AND EMPLOYEES ARE A POOR MIX
Each year, around this time, I dedicate a column to the topic of the heightened risk of injuries resulting from alcohol consumption at work-related events. While accidents arising out of these circumstances are seemingly few, the ramifications can be quite substantial. Canadian court cases have firmly established the employer’s duty of care to take active steps to prevent injuries... Read More