 |
Personal Harassment or Bullying Articles
Boss' criticisms can be perilous
Today, much of the workforce views a manager's criticism as "bullying" or "harassment". As toxic bosses have become a greater liability, their employees no longer call their doctors seeking a note for a leave of absence. Now they call their lawyers. But as harassment is often in the eyes of the beholder, when will a tough boss justify a successful lawsuit? ...[read more]
Computer Misuse at work
Employees often get what they deserve. When they work hard, they get a bonus. When their service is long and meritorious, they may get a good severance package or pension. When they knowingly break their employer's rules, however, they often are fired for cause and get nothing at all. This is the tale of two employees who misused their computers at work and the consequences they reluctantly faced.
...[read more]
Employment Law Basics
Employment Law Basics: This is as true in law as it is in life. Here is a sampling of some of the questions I received this week and the cautionary advice I provided to those employees....[read more]
Employment Law Basics
Most employees cling to beliefs about workplace rights they gleaned from media, friends or researching on the Internet. But many of these "perceived" rights often do not exist. Here are some of my favourite misconceptions....[read more]
Harassed employees are no longer without remedy
Workplace abuse may have been obvious, but rarely did it amount to a paid vacation. Employees faced with a workplace abuser used to visit their doctor for a prescription or a note authorizing a leave of absence. Except in extraordinary cases, employees were bereft of a legal remedy, as courts had little appetite for walking into the workplace and ordering bosses to be nicer to their employees. The reality for most: either leave - or lose - your job. ...[read more]
Harassment doesn't belong at work
Every employer in Ontario has a legal obligation to provide a workplace free from harassment. This obligation extends to protecting you from harassing acts committed by other employees, management personnel, agents of the company, and clients or customers. Many times, both employees and employers are not clear about what their obligations are and what harassment in employment actually means. Furthermore, many people who have been subjected to harassing behaviour are not aware of what they can do to remedy the situation....[read more]
Harassment free workplaces
Employers slow to catch on the pitfalls of employees who are abused or bullied by their bosses are now singing the bad boss blues. ...[read more]
Inappropriate Interview Questions
Too many operate under the delusion that no interview question can be asked relating to personal characteristics or circumstances. However, Canadian employers are permitted to ask tough personal questions. While human rights legislation prohibits employers from making decisions based on permanent personal features such as race, place of origin, colour, religion or disability, among others, it does not prevent them from asking questions based on these grounds....[read more]
Is your Boss a Bully?
Employees faced with an abusive or harassing boss used to visit their doctors for a prescription or a note for a leave of absence. Now, armed with the knowledge that they can sue for significant damages, traumatized employees call their lawyers too. Recently, three separate court decisions reinforced the message that employees can sue for abusive, humiliating and harassing behaviour suffered at the hands of their bosses. ...[read more]