• Posts by Katy E. Allen
    Partner

    Katy Allen is a partner in the Labour, Employment and Human Rights Group in Vancouver. Katy approaches legal issues with pragmatism and a focus on each client’s unique business needs. She advises and represents clients regarding a ...

Earlier this week, the BC Government introduced Bill 13 – 2023: the Pay Transparency Act (the “PTA”). We discuss below the changes that have the greatest potential to affect employers.

New Duty to Publish Salary or Wage Information for Publicly Advertised Job Opportunities

The PTA will require employers, unless exempt by regulation, to specify the expected salary ...

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In 2018, after several years of working at Buzzfeed, Keith Habersberger, Ned Fulmer, Zach Kornfeld, and Eugene Lee Yang started 2nd Try, LLC (“2nd Try”). 2nd Try is a California production company, created and managed by the four individuals (a.k.a. the “Try Guys”). The Try Guys produced and starred in original video content wherein – you guessed it – they try ...

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Following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, the federal government announced earlier this week that September 19, 2022, will be a National Day of Mourning in Canada. This coincides with Her Late Majesty’s State Funeral in London and signifies the end of the official period of mourning in Canada. The full press release can be found here.

As ...

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We often assist employers in defending claims by managers who allege that the employer failed to pay overtime. In this blog post, we explore some of the common pitfalls we see in such cases.

Many employers assume that managers are never entitled to additional pay for any additional hours worked, and that the manager’s wage or salary is their entire entitlement to ...

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Further to our previous blog post on paid sick days, the British Columbia government has just announced amendments to paid sick days under the Employment Standards Act. The amendments are:

  • Calendar Year: The current language in the Act says that employees are entitled to five paid sick days in “each employment year.” This was administratively burdensome for employers ...
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On February 28, 2022, the Government of Ontario introduced Bill 88, Working for Workers Act, 2022 (“Bill 88”), which if passed, would introduce new legislation regarding digital platform workers, as well as amending the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”) and other statutes. Read on to find out the key points in Bill 88 that may affect your business.

Digital ...

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Employers commonly seek our advice on issues related to maternity and parental leave. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions:

Q: Can I ask a candidate for employment whether or not they are pregnant, or whether they are planning on starting a family? I need to know to minimize disruption to my small business.

A: It is generally inadvisable to ask such questions ...

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Did you know that businesses are protected from being sued for COVID-19 transmission, in certain circumstances, in British Columbia?

In the summer of 2020, the British Columbia government enacted the COVID-19 Related Measures Act and the Covid-19 (Limits on Actions and Proceedings) Regulation to support B.C.’s restart plan for the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the ...

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It has been a long year-and-a-half for businesses. On top of the personal pandemic fatigue most British Columbians have been feeling for some time now, businesses in particular have had to be nimble in reacting to public health orders, legislative changes, and government policy which has often been announced and implemented on very short notice and with scant available ...

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Mask wearing indoors has become a ubiquitous part of the COVID-19 experience. The B.C. government mandated mask wearing in November of 2020 for most indoor public settings. Those orders are premised on face coverings helping to prevent, respond to or alleviate the spread of COVID‐19, when used with other protective measures. Some members of our society have physical ...

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About Us

Lawson Lundell's Labour and Employment Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting the Canadian workplace and offers practical tips for employers. We cover a range of topics, including labour relations, employment law, collective bargaining, human rights, employment standards, employment equity, workers' compensation, business immigration, privacy, occupational health and safety and pensions and employee benefits. 

Legal Disclaimer: The information made available on this webpage is for information purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, and should not be relied on as such. Please contact our firm if you need legal advice or have questions about the content of this webpage. 

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