Construction Law, Business Organization, Labor & Employment Law

New initiatives from the WSIB in 2013

by Kevin MacNeill, Daniel Mayer, Samantha Seabrook | Heenan Blaikie LLP on 4/11/2013

The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) is in a state of flux, with many changes happening now and more on the horizon. In order to keep you up-to-date on the most recent workers’ compensation initiatives, this...more

Employee Burnout

by Peter Bauman - Senior Associate at Tharpe &... on 12/10/2012

Sometimes employers can’t see the forest from the trees. This is often the case when it comes to the work environment, including workplace policies, and their impact on employee productivity and retention. In the rush to...more

2012 Workers Compensation Reform In California

by Peter Bauman - Senior Associate at Tharpe &... on 9/12/2012

Workers Compensation reform is on the way. Cynics might ask, didn’t we do this several years ago? Yes we did. In the late 1990’s, overutilization of medical services, higher-than-normal indemnity benefit costs, and...more

New Penalties For Misclassifying An Employee As An Independent Contractor

by Robert Freedman - Partner at Tharpe & Howell,... on 8/28/2012

Senate Bill 459 went into effect on January 1, 2012 and imposes increased penalties against any employer in California who willfully misclassifies an employee as an “independent contractor”. Willful misclassification is...more

New Penalties For Misclassifying An Employee As An Independent Contractor

by Peter Bauman - Senior Associate at Tharpe &... on 7/17/2012

Senate Bill 459 went into effect on January 1, 2012 and imposes increased penalties against any employer in California who willfully misclassifies an employee as an “independent contractor”. Willful misclassification is...more

How ESOPs Can Be Beneficial for Construction Companies

by Sedgwick LLP on 5/10/2012

What Is an ESOP? First and foremost, an ESOP is an employee benefit plan that is qualified for tax-favored treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (IRC). However, an ESOP can also be a tool of...more

Protection of Employees-Prosecution of Corporations

by Heenan Blaikie LLP on 3/7/2011

In a unique prosecution arising in Alberta, Garda Canada Security Corp. has pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to protect a female worker under the working alone provisions of the Alberta OHSA. Amongst other provisions,...more