Welcome to the NCHR e-newsletter - March, 2024 edition. Please enjoy!
Employers are Still Responsible for Health & Safety when Employees Work from Home
One of the most critical responsibilities of employers in all work settings is to the health and safety of staff. This responsibility not only applies to construction sites and manufacturing environments, but also to common office environments, business trips, and off-site company celebrations.
According to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are required ‘to keep a safe and well-maintained workplace; to take all reasonable precautions to protect your workers from illness and/or injury’.
This includes when workers work from home. When employees in Ontario injure themselves in the course of work, even from their home office, the employer may be liable.
Employers are encouraged to establish work from home agreements with staff who regularly work offsite, including health and safety considerations such as:
As more employees enjoy work from home privileges, employers are encouraged to ensure the home office is a safe place to work.
April 8 Solar Eclipse - Protect Employees from Potential Eye Damage
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible throughout Eastern Canada. Depending on where you are, the eclipse will occur between 2:00 and 4:30 PM for between 30 seconds and 3 minutes.
Though the eclipse will be temporary and brief, employees (regardless if they work outdoors or indoors) should be made aware of the potential dangers and take precautions to minimize the risk of injury.
According to The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Intense solar radiation can cause potentially permanent damage to the retinas of the eyes if anyone:
The Ministry also indicates that it is not safe to watch an eclipse through sunglasses, smoked glasses, or space blankets.
To look at the sun during the solar eclipse, specifically designed protective filters are required.
Employers should take a few moments to remind employees of this important information before AND on April 8.
NCHR is here to help.
Contact us for more information: info@nchr.ca - 905-818-NCHR - http://www.nchr.ca
This e-newsletter from NCHR Consulting & Recruitment Services contains important information about HR related legislative updates and other best practice suggestions and lessons learned, to help you better manage your business and employee situations.
Please find previous e-newsletters below:
12/15/2023 - Ontario Job Postings Requirements are Likely to Change in 2024
09/21/2023 - Employers - Manage Carefully When Employees Request Time Off Work
06/21/2023 - Flexibility - A Highly Sought After (and Affordable) Employment Perk
03/22/2023 - Employee Onboarding - The Lost Art
12/13/2022 - Return of the Holiday Party - Tips for Employers
09/20/2022 - Compensation Planning 2023: Employers, Prepare for Higher Wage Increases
06/16/2022 - NCHR e-newsletter: Practical Suggestions about Disconnecting from Work Policies
03/24/2022 - More Legislative Updates for Employers in Ontario
09/20/2021 - Practical Commentary on Vaccinations in the Workplace
06/21/2021 - Employers Must Be Careful When Implementing Continued Work from Home Policies
03/17/2021 - Temporary Layoff Provisions Have Been Extended (Again)
12/14/2020 - Can Employers Force Employees to Vaccinate?
09/14/2020 - Important Updates for Employers in our Rapidly Changing World
05/14/2020 - COVID-19 Reopening of the Ontario Economy & Safe Return to Work Considerations
03/12/2020 - Novel Coronavirus - Practical Steps for Employers in Ontario
12/11/2019 - Work from Home Arrangements - Handle with Care
09/22/2019 - Fourth Quarter Tips for Every HR Team
06/14/2019 - Are We Getting Another Statutory Holiday in Ontario?
03/06/2019 - More Updates to Employment Legislation in Ontario
12/13/2018 - More Sweeping Changes to Employment Law in Ontario
09/10/2018 - Simplifying Cannabis and the Ontario Workplace
06/11/2018 - 'Re-do' on Bill 148 Statutory Holiday Pay Changes
03/21/2018 - Bill 148 Strikes Again
12/11/2017 - Bill 148 Has Become Law...So Now What?
09/13/2017 - An Update on Ontario's Proposed New Labour Laws
06/13/2017 - Not So Fast: A Commentary on Ontario's Proposed New Labour Laws
03/20/2017 - Non-Compete Clauses are Difficult to Enforce
12/14/2016 - Average Salary Increases in 2017
09/14/2016 - New Harassment Legislation Simplified
06/15/2016 - The Benefits Continuation Mystery Solved
03/11/2016 - Important ORPP Updates
10/07/2015 - Newsflash: Employee Voting Rights on Election Day
09/16/2015 - Business Owners - Plan Now For The ORPP
06/03/2015 - Most Employers Must Provide a Copy of This Poster to Employees
02/19/2015 - New 'Respect in the Workplace' Online Training Now Available
12/10/2014 - AODA Reporting Deadline is Dec. 31, 2014
09/08/2014 –New Job Protected Leaves of Absence in Ontario
Employers are Still Responsible for Health & Safety when Employees Work from Home
One of the most critical responsibilities of employers in all work settings is to the health and safety of staff. This responsibility not only applies to construction sites and manufacturing environments, but also to common office environments, business trips, and off-site company celebrations.
According to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are required ‘to keep a safe and well-maintained workplace; to take all reasonable precautions to protect your workers from illness and/or injury’.
This includes when workers work from home. When employees in Ontario injure themselves in the course of work, even from their home office, the employer may be liable.
Employers are encouraged to establish work from home agreements with staff who regularly work offsite, including health and safety considerations such as:
- Confirmation from the employee that they will take every reasonable precaution to ensure their workspace at home is safe and free from hazards;
- An offer to support the purchase of ergonomically sound furniture and/or electronics;
- Permission for the employer to visit the employee worksite if necessary to confirm health and safety protocols are in place.
As more employees enjoy work from home privileges, employers are encouraged to ensure the home office is a safe place to work.
April 8 Solar Eclipse - Protect Employees from Potential Eye Damage
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will be visible throughout Eastern Canada. Depending on where you are, the eclipse will occur between 2:00 and 4:30 PM for between 30 seconds and 3 minutes.
Though the eclipse will be temporary and brief, employees (regardless if they work outdoors or indoors) should be made aware of the potential dangers and take precautions to minimize the risk of injury.
According to The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Intense solar radiation can cause potentially permanent damage to the retinas of the eyes if anyone:
- looks directly at the eclipse without specific eye protection
- watches the eclipse through anything that is not designed to protect the eyes in these circumstances
The Ministry also indicates that it is not safe to watch an eclipse through sunglasses, smoked glasses, or space blankets.
To look at the sun during the solar eclipse, specifically designed protective filters are required.
Employers should take a few moments to remind employees of this important information before AND on April 8.
NCHR is here to help.
Contact us for more information: info@nchr.ca - 905-818-NCHR - http://www.nchr.ca
This e-newsletter from NCHR Consulting & Recruitment Services contains important information about HR related legislative updates and other best practice suggestions and lessons learned, to help you better manage your business and employee situations.
Please find previous e-newsletters below:
12/15/2023 - Ontario Job Postings Requirements are Likely to Change in 2024
09/21/2023 - Employers - Manage Carefully When Employees Request Time Off Work
06/21/2023 - Flexibility - A Highly Sought After (and Affordable) Employment Perk
03/22/2023 - Employee Onboarding - The Lost Art
12/13/2022 - Return of the Holiday Party - Tips for Employers
09/20/2022 - Compensation Planning 2023: Employers, Prepare for Higher Wage Increases
06/16/2022 - NCHR e-newsletter: Practical Suggestions about Disconnecting from Work Policies
03/24/2022 - More Legislative Updates for Employers in Ontario
09/20/2021 - Practical Commentary on Vaccinations in the Workplace
06/21/2021 - Employers Must Be Careful When Implementing Continued Work from Home Policies
03/17/2021 - Temporary Layoff Provisions Have Been Extended (Again)
12/14/2020 - Can Employers Force Employees to Vaccinate?
09/14/2020 - Important Updates for Employers in our Rapidly Changing World
05/14/2020 - COVID-19 Reopening of the Ontario Economy & Safe Return to Work Considerations
03/12/2020 - Novel Coronavirus - Practical Steps for Employers in Ontario
12/11/2019 - Work from Home Arrangements - Handle with Care
09/22/2019 - Fourth Quarter Tips for Every HR Team
06/14/2019 - Are We Getting Another Statutory Holiday in Ontario?
03/06/2019 - More Updates to Employment Legislation in Ontario
12/13/2018 - More Sweeping Changes to Employment Law in Ontario
09/10/2018 - Simplifying Cannabis and the Ontario Workplace
06/11/2018 - 'Re-do' on Bill 148 Statutory Holiday Pay Changes
03/21/2018 - Bill 148 Strikes Again
12/11/2017 - Bill 148 Has Become Law...So Now What?
09/13/2017 - An Update on Ontario's Proposed New Labour Laws
06/13/2017 - Not So Fast: A Commentary on Ontario's Proposed New Labour Laws
03/20/2017 - Non-Compete Clauses are Difficult to Enforce
12/14/2016 - Average Salary Increases in 2017
09/14/2016 - New Harassment Legislation Simplified
06/15/2016 - The Benefits Continuation Mystery Solved
03/11/2016 - Important ORPP Updates
10/07/2015 - Newsflash: Employee Voting Rights on Election Day
09/16/2015 - Business Owners - Plan Now For The ORPP
06/03/2015 - Most Employers Must Provide a Copy of This Poster to Employees
02/19/2015 - New 'Respect in the Workplace' Online Training Now Available
12/10/2014 - AODA Reporting Deadline is Dec. 31, 2014
09/08/2014 –New Job Protected Leaves of Absence in Ontario