In this webinar, experts will explore recent noteworthy developments in labour law. Panelists will address questions including:

• What lessons can be learned from recent cases addressing freedom of association and government involvement in collective bargaining? When will legislation or other government actions which impact collective bargaining be found to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid?
• Are employers entitled to discipline or demote employees for expressing unpopular or controversial views at work? When can employers discipline or discharge employees for off-duty conduct, such as exchanging inappropriate text messages about a colleague in a private group chat?
• When will an employer’s search of an employee’s work or personal device be considered an unreasonable violation of privacy? When will the Charter apply?
• When will an employer’s remote work policy requiring employees to attend in-office certain days of the week be found to be unreasonable and/or in breach of the parties’ collective agreement?
• Under what circumstances have arbitrators in recent cases found requests for substance use testing to be unreasonable or improper?
• What trends are discernible in recent discipline and discharge cases? When may an employer be held liable for damages for the manner in which an employee is dismissed?
• What noteworthy federal and provincial legislative initiatives have recently been introduced? For example:
  • Which jurisdictions have introduced legislation restricting the use of strike replacement workers and what are the implications of such legislation?
  • What challenges have arisen in implementing new federal legislation requiring disclosure of measures to prevent forced labour and child labour in supply chains?
  • What is required under the new return to work obligations introduced in B.C.’s and Nova Scotia’s workers compensation legislation?
  • What changes have been implemented through the latest installments of the Ontario government’s Working for Workers series of legislation?
  • Which jurisdictions have introduced legislation bringing “gig workers” within the scope of employment standards and workers’ compensation legislation?

Final selection of topics will take place in the weeks leading up to the webinar, ensuring coverage of the latest and most newsworthy developments.