Human Resources Management in

Canada
Fifteenth Canadian Edition

Chapter 2
The Changing Legal Emphasis
Compliance and Impact on
Canadian Workplaces

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Learning Objectives
2.1 Explain how employment-related issues are governed in
Canada.
2.2 Discuss at least five prohibited grounds for
discrimination under human rights legislation and
requirements for reasonable accommodation.
2.3 Describe behaviour that could constitute harassment,
and explain the employers' responsibilities regarding
harassment.
2.4 Describe the purpose of employment equity programs
and explain the role of minimums established in
employment standards legislation.

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Where Are We Now … Ellipsis

The purpose of this chapter is to provide you with the

knowledge to deal more effectively with legislative
requirements and employment equity questions.

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The Legal Framework for
Employment Law in Canada (1 of 5)
Figure 2.1 Government’s Role in Balancing Employer and
Employee Needs

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The Legal Framework for
Employment Law in Canada (2 of 5)
Hierarchy of Employment Legislation in Canada:
• Government sets legislation.
• Interpretation by jurisdiction can influence workplace.
– Previous interpretations of the laws impact how the
laws get interpreted in the future.
– Precedent – the decision or interpretation of a court of
another jurisdiction or similar case can act as a
persuasive authority regarding how legislation is to be
interpreted and applied in other jurisdictions or case.

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The Legal Framework for
Employment Law in Canada (3 of 5)
Figure 2.2 Multiple Layers of Canadian Legislation Affecting
Workplace Practices

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The Legal Framework for
Employment Law in Canada (4 of 5)
Tort Law
• Tort Law: Primarily judge-based law, whereby a victim is
provided compensation for losses or damages in civil
court (not criminal court).
• Important for HR M based on the premise that
organizations and employees commit acts that are
considered breaking the law.
• Categories of torts:
– Intentional – assault, battery, trespass.
– Unintentional – negligence caused by carelessness.

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The Legal Framework for
Employment Law in Canada (5 of 5)
Who is an “Employee”?
• Complicated to define what is an “employee”.
• 6 factors to determine if the relationship is an employer-
employee relationship:
– Control
– Tools and equipment
– Subcontracting
– Financial risk
– Investment and management
– Opportunity for profit

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (1 of 13)
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Fundamental rights and freedoms:
– Freedom of conscience and religion.
– Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression.
– Freedom of peaceful assembly.
– Freedom of association.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (2 of 13)
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• Additional provisions important to HR M:
– Multicultural heritage rights.
– First Nations' rights.
– Minority language education rights.
– Equality rights.
– Right to live and work anywhere in Canada.
– Right to due process in criminal proceedings.
– Right to democracy.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (3 of 13)
Human Rights Legislation
• Jurisdictions specific legislation.
• Prohibits intentional and unintentional discrimination in
employment situations and in the delivery of goods and
services.
• Supersedes terms of any employment contract or
collective agreement.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (4 of 13)
Discrimination Defined
• Discrimination is as used in the context of human rights
in employment, a distinction, exclusion, or preference
based on any of the prohibited grounds that has the effect
of nullifying or impairing the right of a person to full and
equal recognition and exercise of their human rights and
freedoms.
• Often focuses on the concept of social identity:
– How we see ourselves vs. others.
– May develop prejudices or stereotypes.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (5 of 13)
Intentional Discrimination Unintentional Discrimination
• Differential or unequal • Unintentional or
treatment in terms and constructive or systemic
conditions of employment discrimination is the
based on any of the most difficult to detect.
prohibited grounds. • Embedded in policies and
• Denial of rights due to practices that appear
association with a neutral.
protected group member. • Have adverse impact on
specific groups of people.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (6 of 13)
Figure 2.3 Examples of Systemic Discrimination

Source: Based on material provided by the Ontario Women’s Directorate and the Canadian
Human Rights Commission.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (7 of 13)
Permissible Discrimination via Bona Fide Occupational
Requirement (BFO R):
• BFO R is a justifiable reason for discrimination based on
business necessity (i.e., required for the safe and efficient
operation of the organization) or a requirement that can be
clearly defended as intrinsically required by the tasks an
employee is expected to perform.
• Criteria for assessing legality of BFO R:
– Legitimate work related purpose.
– Requirement is necessary for the role.
– Causing undue hardship on the employer.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (8 of 13)
Duty to Accommodate:
• Provide equal access to employment by removal of
physical, attitudinal, and systemic barriers.
• Demonstrate attempts to accommodate to the point of
undue hardship. Often done at minimal cost.
• Accommodation can be considered appropriate if it results
in equal opportunity, benefits and privileges others
experience.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (9 of 13)
• Reasonable Accommodation is the adjustment of
employment policies and practices that an employer may
be expected to make so that no individual is denied
benefits, disadvantaged in employment, or prevented from
carrying out the essential components of a job because of
grounds prohibited in human rights legislation.
– May involve scheduling adjustments or workstation
redesign.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (10 of 13)
• Accommodate to the point of undue hardship:
– The point to which employers are expected to
accommodate employees under human rights
legislative requirements.
– Financial costs make accommodation impossible.
– Health and safety risks to the individual or other
employees prevent accommodation.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (11 of 13)
Human Rights Case Examples
• Disability:
– Make up almost half of all human rights claims.
• Race and Colour:
– Illegal in every jurisdiction in Canada.
• Religion:
– Takes many forms in our multicultural society.
– Denying time to pray or to prohibit clothing recognized as
religiously required.
▪ For example, hijab or turban.
▪ Consider if it is a bona fide occupational requirement.

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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (12 of 13)
Human Rights Case Examples
• Sexual Orientation:
– Prohibited in all jurisdictions.
– Laws define “common-law partners” to include both
same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
• Age:
– Evidence does not support the belief that age is an
accurate indicator of a person's ability to perform a job
• Discrimination because of association:
– Denial of rights because of friendship or other
relationship with a protected group member.
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Legislation Protecting the General
Population (13 of 13)
Human Rights Enforcement
• Human rights tribunal provides speedy and accessible
process to help parties.
• Employer has duty to investigate claims of discrimination.
– Have an antidiscrimination/anti-harassment policy.
– Assess every complaint and launch an investigation.
– Demonstrate reasonable resolution and
communication.
• Systemic remedy – ensure compliance with legislation.
• Restitutional remedy – monetary compensation.

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Harassment (1 of 6)
• Harassment is unwelcome behaviour that demeans,
humiliates or embarrasses a person and that a reasonable
person should have known would be unwelcome.
• Examples of Harassment:
– Physical or verbal attempts to humiliate or offend.
– To threaten or intimidate.
– Unwelcome remarks, jokes.
– Unnecessary physical contact.

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Harassment (2 of 6)
Employer Responsibility
• Provide safe and healthy work environment which
includes protection from harassment.
• Employers should be aware of harassment as they can be
charged as well as the alleged harasser.
• Includes harassment by clients or customers.

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Harassment (3 of 6)
Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Harassment is offensive or humiliating behaviour
that is related to a person’s sex, as well as behaviour of a
sexual nature that creates an intimidating, unwelcome,
hostile, or offensive work environment or that could
reasonably be thought to put sexual conditions on a
person’s job or employment opportunities.

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Harassment (4 of 6)
Sexual Harassment
• Sexual coercion: Harassment of a sexual nature that
results in some direct consequence to the worker’s
employment status or some gain in or loss of tangible job
benefits.
– Using control over employment, pay, performance
appraisal, or promotion to gain sexual favours.
• Sexual annoyance: Conduct that is hostile, intimidating,
or offensive but has no direct link to tangible job benefits.

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Harassment (5 of 6)
Harassment Policies
• Harassment policies should include:
– Commitment to safe and respectful work environment.
– Statement harassment is against the law.
– Information for victims to identifying harassment.
– Employees’ rights and responsibilities.
– Employers’ and managers’ responsibilities.

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Harassment (6 of 6)
Harassment Policies
• Harassment policies should include (continued):
– Procedures on what to do.
– Penalties for retaliations.
– Guidelines for appeals.
– Alternative options.
– How the policy is monitored and adjusted.

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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (1 of 6)
• Employment equity program: A detailed plan designed
to identify and correct existing discrimination, redress past
discrimination, and achieve a balanced representation of
members of the four designated groups in the
organization.
• The Employment Equity Act applies to federally regulated
industries, Crown corporations, federal organizations with
more than 100 employees and other specific
organizations (e.g., the RCM P).

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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (2 of 6)
The Status of the Four Designated Groups
Women:
• Women account for 47% of the employed workforce.
• They are underrepresented in traditionally male
occupations (occupational segregation).
• They face the glass ceiling – an invisible barrier, caused
by attitudinal or organizational bias that limits their
advancement opportunities.

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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (3 of 6)
The Status of the Four Designated Groups
Women:
• Equal pay for equal work specifies that an employer
cannot pay male and female employees differently if they
are performing the same or substantially similar work.
• Pay differences based on merit, productivity or seniority
are permitted.

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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (4 of 6)
The Status of the Four Designated Groups
• Indigenous People:
– Mostly in low-skill, low-paid jobs.
– Significant underemployment
• People with Disabilities:
– Includes both mental and physical disabilities.
– Lower employment rates.
• Visible Minorities:
– Persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-
Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.
– Knowledge, skills, and abilities not fully utilized.
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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (5 of 6)
Employment/Labour Standards Legislation
Federal and provincial/territorial versions:
• Present in every Canadian jurisdiction.
• Establish minimum employee entitlements.
• Set a limit on maximum number of hours of work
permitted per day or week.
• Employment contracts may exceed minimums.
• Principle of greater benefit applies.

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Employment Equity and Provincial
Employment Standards (6 of 6)
Enforcement of Employment Standards Act:
• Complaints filed with Ministry of Labour or counterpart.
• Filed complaint is settled through the Ministry, not civil
court.
• Limitation periods for filing.
• Maximum claim limit for unpaid wages.

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