It is . . . generally true that wilful disobedience of an order will justify summary dismissal, since wilful disobedience of a lawful and reasonable order shows a disregard – a complete disregard – of a condition essential to the contract of service, namely, the condition that the servant must obey the proper orders of […]
Occupational Health and Safety 3: Ticket Offences at Work
Introduction Most Canadians are familiar with “tickets” for minor offences. If we have personal experience at all with the legal system, it is most likely through receiving the occasional ticket for parking, seat belts, rolling through a stop sign, speeding or some other traffic offence. There are several other regulatory subjects that are enforced by […]
Employers’ Legal Obligations During Major Disasters
Introduction We write this column within a week of the devastating floods in southern Alberta. A few years ago, this column addressed the H1N1 influenza outbreak. Before that was SARS. Alberta has experienced serious tornados and fires. While not ‘natural’ disasters, we remember the potent threat of Y2K as we entered the current millennium with […]
Changing Terms of Employment
Introduction Darrell Wronko started work at Western Inventory Service Limited (WIS) in 1987, right after graduating from university. He worked at the company for 17 years, including four years as Vice President of National Accounts and Marketing. In 2000, he signed an amended employment contract, which included a significant improvement to his termination clause. The […]
Post-Employment Legal Obligations
Introduction As with most relationships, employment relationships end. This may be by mutual parting, the employee quitting, or the employee being dismissed. The end of a relationship can mean that a few legal obligations continue. In this article, we briefly discuss the three principal post-employment obligations of workers. 1. Confidentiality Agreements Employees often come into […]
Protection and Prosecution: Falling at Work
Introduction Just before Christmas 2009, Mr. Murgappa Naiker died instantly after falling 18.5 feet from an open bucket while de-icing an airplane at the Calgary airport. He was not wearing his safety harness. He had 17 years experience as a de-icing ramp agent and had completed updated safety training two months earlier. His employer, Servisair, […]
The Confidentiality of Commercially Valuable Information
Introduction: the Cymbal Business In an age when multi-billion dollar companies struggle to survive, a small family-owned company called Zidjian continues to manufacture cymbals as it has for almost four hundred years. It controls almost 65% of the world’s cymbal market, with annual revenues close to $50 million. The formula of the special alloy used […]
The Law of Embellished Credentials
Introduction Human resources professionals say up to 30% of claims on resumes of job applicants have been exaggerated. Job seekers, inclined to present themselves in the best possible light, are tempted to inflate their credentials, especially during recessionary times when jobs are scarce and competition is fierce. According to a recent anonymous survey, over 80% […]
Occupational Health and Safety
Introduction This article is the first in a series of columns on the topic of safety at work. Canadians spend most of their economically-productive years in the workforce. Most are spared a serious injury or worse. But there is always danger at work, particularly in the heavy industries that contribute to the Alberta economy. The […]
Resolving Conflict: Six Simple Steps to Keeping the Peace
One of the most challenging roles of an effective manager is that of “peacekeeper”. Resolving conflicts in the workplace takes negotiation skills, patience, and a healthy dose of emotional intelligence. Recently, I interviewed Susan Steinbrecher, an author, executive coach and speaker who is CEO of Steinbrecher and Associates, a management-consulting firm, to gain further insight […]
