November 1, 2012
- Announcements
- Bill 115 Goes to Court: the legal arguments
- Work-Life Imbalance
- Youth Underemployment
- Immigration Changes & Recommendations
- Migrant Workers’ Rights …
- Which Finger to Give to Bay Street
- Employees Concerned About Psychological Safety in the Workplace
- Canadian Workplace Health and Safety Resources
- Why “Following Your Passion” Is Bad Advice
- Small Business Owners Hanging On
- Get a Career in the Energy Sector
- Canadian Economic Observer Discontinued
- Book of the Week
Announcements
Centre for Law in the Contemporary Workplace, Faculty of Law, Queen’s University: Adjudicating Human Rights in the Workplace: After Ontario's Pinto Report, Where Do We Go Next? November 9-10, 2012 in Kingston, Ontario (limited space -- those who are unable to attend the workshop but who are interested in the discussion can see papers from this event published in the Canadian Labour Law and Employment Journal in the near future.) Workshop program for background see Ontario Human rights review 2011-12
Conversations on Work & Labour Series: “International Regulation of Domestic Work: the challenges and opportunities of applying ILO convention 189 to India, Brazil and Canada” presented by Dr. Ana Virginia Gomes, Centre for the Law in the Contemporary Workplace, Queen’s University
Where: Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, U of T, 121 St. George Street - Room 205
When: Wednesday November 21, 2012, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Social and Economic History Experts Speaker Series: Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super-Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else (Penguin, October 2012); Author Chrystia Freeland, Global Editor-at-Large and Columnist, Reuters News.
Where: Rotman School of Management, U of T, 105 St George Street, CIBC Room (3rd floor, north wing)When: Friday November 30, 2012, 11:30 AM - 01:15 PM
Bill 115 Goes to Court: the legal arguments presented on TVO’s The Agenda
The battle between Ontario teachers and the Ontario government over Bill 115, the "Putting Students First Act," is headed to the courts. Steve Paikin sits down with two labour lawyers for a walkthrough of the key issues on both sides of the legal argument. Fay Faraday is a McMurtry Clinical Visiting Fellow and nationally recognized lawyer with expertise in constitutional and human rights law. Sonia Regenbogen is a partner in Heenan Blaikie's Labour and Employment Group whose practice focuses on human rights and labour and employment law.
TVO, Oct 30, 2012: The Agenda: The Ontario We Want
TVO, Oct 30, 2012: The Agenda: Overview of Bill 115
TVO, Oct 30, 2012: The Agenda Podcast: The Legal Challenge to Bill 115
Work-Life Imbalance
A major Canadian study by Carleton University’s Linda Duxbury and Christopher Higgins at Western University, their third on work-life balance in two decades, has found that work demands have risen, flexible work arrangement are rare and career mobility is an issue.
The study surveyed 25,000 full-time workers in Canada between June 2011 and June 2012. Many of those who responded worked within the knowledge sector – meaning they held managerial, professional or administrative positions. Two thirds made over $60,000 dollars a year and two-thirds were also parents.
“Stress levels have gone up and life satisfaction has gone down,’’ said Duxbury. “Email use has gone up, as have work demands. There are more employees balancing work, elder care and childcare. But despite the talk, many companies have not made progress in the area of work-life balance and employee well-being. The bottom line is that many of the employees in our sample were having real difficulties balancing competing work and family demands.’’
Summary, October 25, 2012: Revisiting Work-Life Issues in Canada: The 2012 National Study on Balancing Work and Caregiving in Canada, by Linda Duxbury, PhD, Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, and Christopher Higgins, PhD, Professor, Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario (14 pages, PDF)
Key Findings, October 25, 2012: Revisiting Work-Life Issues in Canada: The 2012 National Study on Balancing Work and Caregiving in Canada, by Linda Duxbury, PhD, Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University, and Christopher Higgins, PhD, Professor, Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario (20 pages, PDF)
Impact, October 25, 2012: Impact of Gender and Life-cycle Stage on the Findings The 2012 National Study on Balancing Work and Caregiving in Canada, by Linda Duxbury, PhD, Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University and Christopher Higgins, PhD, Professor, Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario( 10 pages, PDF)
workplace
The Globe and Mail, October 25, 2012: “Canada's work-life balance more off-kilter than ever,” by Josh O’Cane
Carleton Newsroom release, October 25, 2012
Video introducing Work Life Balance 2012 National Work-Life Study initiative to potential participating companies: Happy employees make for healthy companies.
Youth Underemployment
“For youth, “the consequences of underemployment for an individual may appear through the erosion or loss of skills, knowledge and abilities, diminished current and life-long income, job dissatisfaction and emotional distress which, in turn, may lead to deteriorating health.””
The Globe and Mail, October 30, 2012: “The real youth jobs crisis: underemployment,” by Tavia Grant
CGA-Canada, October 30, 2012: New release: Canada’s jobless youth are getting a fair shake
Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, October 30, 2012: Youth Unemployment in Canada: Challenging Conventional Thinking? (63 pages, PDF)
Immigration Changes & Recommendations: Upping the Canadian Experience Class
Ottawa is planning to let in the same number of immigrants as previous years – around 250,000 – though they are making some changes. The plan is to set aside more room for Canadian Experience Class immigrants, temporary foreign workers already in Canada, as well as non-Canadians who have graduated from Canadian universities and colleges. The idea is that they have already proven they can integrate into Canadian society and meet its labour market needs. An Ipsos poll found that 72% of Canadians disagree that Canada should let in more immigrants than it currently does. The poll also found that Canadians are split on whether they believe that immigration has been positive or negative.
Ipsos, July 1, 2012: On Immigrants and Aboriginals: Majority (72%) of Canadians Disagree That Canada Should Admit More Immigrants than Current Levels, Split on Whether Immigration has Been Positive (40%) or Negative (34%)
CBC News, Oct 29, 2012: Kenney's economic immigration changes praised, scorned: Credited for skilled worker reforms, criticized for creating 'second-tier' migrants among labourers, by Louise Elliott
The Globe and Mail, Oct 30, 2012: “Ottawa makes more room in immigration quota for fast-growing class,” by Steven Chase
Metcalf Foundation, October 2012: Made in Canada: How the Law Constructs Migrant Workers’ Insecurity, by Faraday
Final Report by Ontario's Expert Roundtable on Immigration
This report represents the advice of the Expert Roundtable on Immigration, which consisted of leaders from the private sector, the settlement services sector, academia, and the not-for-profit sector. Its mandate was to advise the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on the development of an Ontario immigration strategy that addresses immigrant selection, settlement, and integration issues, with an emphasis on economic immigration and labour market integration.
Mowat Centre Report, October 15, 2012: Expanding Our Routes To Success: The Final Report by Ontario's Expert Roundtable on Immigration (60 pages, PDF)
Migrant Workers’ Rights …
Migrantworkerhealth.ca was recently launched in order to educate healthcare providers on the rights and challenges of migrant workers in Canada. 14 migrant farm workers have died in Ontario so far this year. Many injuries and illnesses go unreported due to migrants’ fears they will be sent back to their country of origin.
Migrant Worker Health: A Guide for Healthcare Providers
The Toronto Star, Oct 28, 2012: Migrant workers to get health-care boost from website by Nicholas Keung
“The British Columbian government is investigating after a Tyee report found that an employment agency based in the province was charging miners in China $12,500 each for the opportunity to work in Canadian mines”
CBC, October 24, 2012: Chinese migrant workers and illegal recruitment fees
Another worker issue surrounds HD Mining International Ltd. The company obtained permits to bring up to 201 Chinese miners to work a proposed project in B.C. Facing pressure from labour groups, Ottawa is now investigating the foreign worker permits, including whether or not there are trained Canadian workers to fill the jobs.
The Globe and Mail, Oct 30, 2012: Ottawa investigates foreign worker permits for miners
Very Concerned' Feds Investigate Temp Miner Hires in BC
The Tyee, October 31, 2012: Not clear how much probe will focus on illegal attempts to charge hefty fees to Chinese applicants, by Jeremy J. Nuttall
Manitoba’s first-of-its-kind Worker Recruitment and Protection Act and its regulations came into full effect April 1, 2009. It improves protection for foreign workers wanting to live and work in the province.
Which Finger to Give to Bay Street
After receiving complaints that their administrative staff were taking long lunches and “abusing the system,” Bay Street law firm McCague Borlack LLP announced a new security system that will track employee’s comings and goings by fingerprint. Under the new system, only administrative staff will be required to submit their biometric information in order to access the office – paralegals and lawyers will not.
A protest site, Which Finger to Give to Bay Street, has been launched. The objections concern privacy and dignity, “[T]he lawyers are about to fingerprint the secretaries! Why? Not for security reasons. No: The firm wants greater control and “productivity enhancement”—with the cost to be paid by workers’ dignity.”
The Toronto Star, Nov 1, 2012: Bay Street law firm uses fingerprint technology to monitor employees’ comings and goings by Niamh Scallan
The Huffington Post, Nov 1, 2012: Employee Monitoring: McCague Borlack, Toronto Law Firm, Aims To Fingerprint Non-Lawyer Staff
Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog, Oct 30, 2012: Can a Law Firm Force Support Staff to be Fingerprinted? by David Doorey
Employees Concerned About Psychological Safety in the Workplace
A poll conducted by Ipsos Reid has found that more people feel physically safe than psychologically safe in their workplace. Nearly three-quarters of employees in Canada (71%) report some degree of ‘concern’ about levels of psychological health and safety in their workplace, with one-third saying they have concerns regarding their psychological safety at work. The report comes in advance of the National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace, expected to be released in November by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
Ipsos, Oct 30, 2012: Nearly Three-Quarters (71%) Report Some Degree of Concern About Levels Of Psychological Health and Safety In Their Workplace
Mental Health Commission of Canada: News for National Standard of Canada for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace
Benefits Canada, Oct 30, 2012: “Employees concerned with physical and mental safety at work “
The Globe and Mail, Oct 23, 2012: “Companies challenged to make workplaces psychologically safe,” by Judy Gerstel
Canadian Workplace Health and Safety Resources
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is producing free monthly podcasts “to keep you current with information, tips, and insights into the health safety and well-being of working Canadians”. You can subscribe on iTunes. Canada’s National Workplace Health and Safety (CanOSH) website is another great resource, including alerts & bulletins, news & events, legislation, and statistics. Information is available for all Canadian jurisdictions.
CCOHS: Podcasts
CanOSH: includes legislation and statistics for all provinces
Why “Following Your Passion” Is Bad Advice
Cal Newport, an assistant professor of computer science at Georgetown University and a provocative blogger at the Study Hacks website, argues that the notion you should follow your own passion is bunk. In his new book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You, he proposes 4 rules for cultivating your career passion: realize career passion is rare, become a craftsman, seek the elixir of control, and develop a mission.
Study Hacks: Cal Newport’s Blog
The Globe and Mail, Oct 30, 2012: "Four Rules to Cultivate Your Career Passion."
Small Business Owners Hanging On
“More than a third – 39 per cent – of Canadian small business owners plan to stay on the job until they are in their seventies, 27 per cent will hang in until they are 65 to 69 – and 14 per cent say they will never retire, according to a new survey from Investors Group Inc.”
The Globe and Mail, October 30, 2012: “Retirement distant for entrepreneurs: survey,” by Terry Brodie
Ivestors Group, October 2012: Survey Summary: The Entrepreneurial Journey: Canada’s Small Business Owners Don’t Plan to Walk Away Anytime Soon
Get a Career in the Energy Sector
Financial Post, October 29, 2012: “Energy sector grapples with acute labour shortages,” by Yadullah
Petroleum Human Resource Council of Canada, August 1, 2012: TalentEgg and the Petroleum HR Council Announce Third Year of Partnership in "Career Guide: Petroleum"
TalentEgg: Career Guide Petroleum
The Oil Sands Labour Market Outlook to 2021 Report is available here (a paid publication)
Canadian Economic Observer Discontinued
The Canadian Economic Observer (CEO) has been discontinued. The last online edition of CEO was published in June 2012. It has been replaced by the new Economic Insights series available free of charge online via Statistics Canada.
For more information, please contact one of Statistics Canada representatives at 1-800-263-1136 or e-mail infostats@statcan.gc.ca.
Economic Insights, no. 019, October 2012: Recent Developments in the Canadian Economy: Fall 2012, by Cyndi Bloskie and Guy Gellatly, Statistics Canada, Analysis Branch.
Book of the Week
Challenging the Legal Boundaries of Work Regulation, edited by Judy Fudge, Shae McCrystal and Kamala Sankaran. Oxford : Hart, 2012. 340 p. ISBN 9781849462792 (hardcover)
UTLibraries link to catalogue record: http://go.utlib.ca/cat/8574339
.Focusing on paid work that blurs traditional legal boundaries and the challenge this poses to traditional forms of labour regulation, this collection of original case studies illustrates the wide range of different forms of regulation designed to provide decent work. The original case studies cover a diversity of workers from across developed and developing countries, the formal and informal economies and public and private work spaces. Each deals with the failings of traditional labour law, and several explore the capacity of different forms of regulatory techniques, such as commercial law, corporate codes of conduct, or supply chain regulation, to protect workers.
About the Authors:
Judy Fudge is Professor and Lansdowne Chair at the Faculty of Law at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Shae McCrystal is Senior Lecturer in the School of Law at the University of Sydney, Australia.
Kamala Sankaran is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi, India.
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