Dealing with a workplace bully

Ed Canning Oct 26, 2019

Question: I feel like I’m getting bullied by a co-worker.  One example is that recently a new cell phone for her, that it was my job to order, did not arrive as scheduled.  She came to my desk, stood about one foot away looking down at me and in an angry raised voice asked where her new cell phone was as if I reported to her.  This is only one of many examples I could give. How should I deal with this? 


 

Fixed term contracts can leave employers 6 feet under

Ed Canning Oct 12, 2019

Fixed term contracts can be an expensive and dangerous thing for employers. 

 

Addiction is a disability like any other

Ed Canning Sep 28, 2019

Wording of Bonus Plans

Ed Canning Sep 14, 2019

Employers drafting bonus plans have to be very careful about the wording they use.  Judges will usually take those words at face value.  


 

Clean hands crucial if you are persuing your old employer’s clients

Ed Canning Jul 13, 2019

Clean hands crucial if you are persuing your old employer’s clients

If there’s any chance that you will get caught up being sued by your former employer claiming you breeched an obligation not to solicit their clients, make sure your hands are squeaky clean.  If your hands have dirt on them, judges tend to make decisions that can be a bit surprising.

Not everything is bullying or harassment

Ed Canning Jun 22, 2019

A few years back, protection from bullying and harassment were added to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  Now, any time an employee alleges bullying and/or harassment, the employer has to conduct an investigation and produce a written report.

Age Discrimination is Incidious

Ed Canning Jun 15, 2019

You are the manager of a non-unionized call centre and 5 out of 15 customer service reps have to be let go because of a shortage of work. Or you are interviewing candidates for a Supervisory Accounting position and the final choice is up to you.

 

Sexual Harrassment in the workplace

Ed Canning May 25, 2019

When Julie first started her job as a bookkeeper for a used car sales lot, she enjoyed it very much.  It was a small family business and she thought she got along well with the owner. 

Terminating employee on sick benefits

Ed Canning Apr 27, 2019

About 4 months ago at a weekly management meeting of our company we made a decision, which was recorded in the minutes, to terminate the Comptroller immediately as a result of a number of performance issues. 

Workplace Safety, Overtime policies

Ed Canning Mar 30, 2019

Paul worked delivering propane as a truck driver.  One morning, alone in the yard, he started to fill up his truck with propane.