HR News Canada

by Todd Humber

Top Stories

Arbitrator rules WorkSafeBC broke deal in forcing staff back to office

WorkSafeBC violated its collective agreement when it ordered thousands of employees back into the office on a fixed weekly schedule, a British Columbia arbitrator has ruled. Arbitrator J. Najeeb Hassan found the Workers’ Compensation Board …

Nearly 1 in 5 open jobs closes without a hire, survey finds
Fair pay, respect emerge as new engagement predictors: WSA researcher
Clarity on termination clauses: Ontario’s top court finally says what ‘at any time’ means

Employers owe notice before revoking work-from-home, Whitten warns

Latest News

The idea of the ‘company man’ was forged decades ago. Its problems still haunt leaders today
Vickers Manor staff in Thunder Bay, Ont., quit after going unpaid for over a month
N.W.T. overhauls Public Service Act, adds whistleblower protections
BC health ministry urges wildfire smoke precautions as air quality worsens
Researchers, advocates rail against U.S. government’s efforts to end workforce data collection
New Brunswick gets $10 million to speed up foreign credential recognition
Grocery and drugstore retailer Metro reports Q3 profit down from year ago
CWIPP pension plan hits 141% funded ratio, $304 million surplus
Ottawa commits $3.2 million to Treaty 7 youth job training
OMERS earns 4.8% net return in first half of year
Cargojet pilots notch 46 per cent wage hike, as company stresses productivity gains

B.C. weighs new duty for employers to address psychological hazards

The Agreement | Labour Law

PREMIUM Coast Mountain Bus Company driver’s dismissal grievance ruled arbitrable despite delay

PREMIUM Vancouver Korean Press loses bid to reconsider union certification
PREMIUM Vancouver area SN Transport, transit union set essential strike service levels
PREMIUM Board dismisses BC worker’s bid to reconsider coerced retirement complaint
PREMIUM Compressed schedule workers at B.C. pulp mill denied paid Truth and Reconciliation Day

Collective Agreements

PREMIUM United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 and Pacific Energy Fireplace Products finalize three-year collective agreement covering production workers

Canadian SMEs stay optimistic but grow more selective on hiring
New report says USMCA renegotiation could add 98,000 Canadian jobs
Coast Mountain Bus Company transit workers plan uniform ban Aug. 17
Employee happiness climbs to three-year high, but recovery leaves gaps
Newcomer women put their lives ‘on hold’ before resuming careers
Unifor to begin talks with General Motors today after deal with Ford
Canada’s unemployment rate falls to two-year low of 6.4%
US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs amid strain from the Iran war,...
Canada is becoming less accepting of gender diversity, new Statistics Canada data shows
Ottawa urged to scrap, not codify, power to end legal strikes by...
In Partnership with Queen's University IRC

Labour Relations

Arbitrator rules WorkSafeBC broke deal in forcing staff back to office

Vickers Manor staff in Thunder Bay, Ont., quit after going unpaid for over a month

Grocery and drugstore retailer Metro reports Q3 profit down from year ago

Cargojet pilots notch 46 per cent wage hike, as company stresses productivity gains

Coast Mountain Bus Company transit workers plan uniform ban Aug. 17

Unifor to begin talks with General Motors today after deal with Ford

Ottawa urged to scrap, not codify, power to end legal strikes by labour group
B.C. labour board orders Amazon into binding arbitration for first contract
WestJet cabin crew union shares specifics of deal reached with airline after strike
WestJet flight cancellations tapering off as airline ramps back up after strike
WestJet, CUPE reach tentative deal as passengers scramble amid flight disruptions

Opinion

The idea of the ‘company man’ was forged decades ago. Its problems still haunt leaders today

Clarity on termination clauses: Ontario’s top court finally says what ‘at any time’ means

Canada is becoming less accepting of gender diversity, new Statistics Canada data shows

Incivility is costing employers dearly: Here’s how leaders can turn the tide

Leaders want honest feedback – but it’s not always comfortable
Incivility is costing employers dearly: Here’s how leaders can turn the tide
Leaders want honest feedback – but it’s not always comfortable
My grandfather kept his rejected degree for 50 years. Decades later, Canada still deskills immigrants
It’s not just business: Why emotions are central to workplace management

Global HR News

Researchers, advocates rail against U.S. government’s efforts to end workforce data collection
Federal report says firefighting tactics at Maine lumber mill explosion aided the blast
US employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs amid strain from the Iran war, unemployment dips to 4.1%
Congo Ebola health workers protest unpaid wages, disrupting response as deaths top 1,800
3 killed in Idaho In-N-Out shooting included a man known for helping others get sober

In-N-Out worker killed in shooting at newly opened Idaho...

At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to...

Coal mine blast in Pakistan kills at lead 7...

Benefits Fraud

The ripple effect: Benefits fraud impacts premiums, coverage and healthcare 

The anatomy of benefits fraud: Common schemes and how they’re stopped 

Building a fraud-resistant workplace: What employers need to know 

The hidden cost of benefits fraud: How AI and data science are fighting back

Employment Law

Clarity on termination clauses: Ontario’s top court finally says what ‘at any time’ means

Employers owe notice before revoking work-from-home, Whitten warns

Arbitrator strikes down TTC’s random drug and alcohol testing program
Ontario ombudsman clears Township of Scugog’s off-site CAO hiring meeting
26 Meta employees sue in US, alleging AI-driven layoff picks hit workers on medical and parental leave
B.C. Mountie loses court appeal after coercive sexual relationship with jail guard

Mental Health

B.C. weighs new duty for employers to address psychological hazards

What my first job taught me about psychological health and safety

Burnout isn’t new — 18th‑century farm records show workers describing the same exhaustion
Mental health programs alone won’t fix psychological injury among public safety workers
PREMIUM Ontario ordered to pay three guards on PTSD leave $12.5K each for posting their photos at jail entrances
Ontario coroner calls for broader mental health coverage after 34 corrections suicides

Total Rewards

CWIPP pension plan hits 141% funded ratio, $304 million surplus

OMERS earns 4.8% net return in first half of year

PREMIUM Scugog firefighters to see wages rise to $122,000 under new contract in Ontario
Fair pay, respect emerge as new engagement predictors: WSA researcher
Many Canadians don’t know federal travel advisories can void their insurance: survey
Payroll employment rose by 24,100 in May, wages climb 3.4 per cent from 2025: Statistics Canada

Artificial Intelligence

At colleges, the AI boom means everyone wants to dabble in computer science

Executives split sharply on AI readiness, HR leaders most cautious

One-third of Canadians admit exaggerating AI skills at work: TD survey
AI whitepaper finds job losses lag behind the hype, so far
Paylocity launches AI agents across HR, payroll and recruiting platform
26 Meta employees sue in US, alleging AI-driven layoff picks hit workers on medical and parental leave

Recruitment

Nearly 1 in 5 open jobs closes without a hire, survey finds

Canadian SMEs stay optimistic but grow more selective on hiring

Saskatchewan’s hidden workforce is ready to get to work
Canadian hiring plans climb as skills shortages persist: Robert Half
Paylocity launches AI agents across HR, payroll and recruiting platform
Ontario ombudsman clears Township of Scugog’s off-site CAO hiring meeting

Retention

The surprises that make new hires quit? Well, they’re the ones about your own organization

Afni improves retention using UKG workforce platform globally

U.K.’s overworked staff eye the exit, HiBob survey finds
Nearly a quarter of Canadian workers plan to change jobs
Four in 10 Canadian professionals plan job search: Robert Half
Nova Scotia opens applications for healthcare worker recruitment grants

Remote & Hybrid Work

Arbitrator rules WorkSafeBC broke deal in forcing staff back to office

Employers owe notice before revoking work-from-home, Whitten warns

Union to stage Ottawa street action over crowded federal office spaces
Office market sees first full-year of recovery since pandemic disruption: CBRE
Commuting costs, cramped offices drive resistance to return-to-office mandates
Ontario’s WSIB must restore flex work before office return, arbitrator rules

People on the Move

LifeSpeak names Neil King as chief executive officer

SHRM Linkage appoints Carolynn Johnson as acting CEO

Lotto.com names Amanda Coyle vice-president of human resources
Corel names Tracy Porter-Stevens as vice-president of people
Employment Hero names Chris Pinkerton as Canadian managing director
UKG hires Oracle executive Rod Johnson as chief revenue officer

Industry News

LifeSpeak names Neil King as chief executive officer

Paylocity launches AI agents across HR, payroll and recruiting platform

Menzies Aviation standardizes scheduling for 65,000 workers with UKG
Talogy partners with Symulate to build AI-powered talent simulations
Afni improves retention using UKG workforce platform globally
Dayforce adds WorkWhile to contingent staffing network

Top Employers

CIBC recognized as one of the World’s Top Disability Inclusive Businesses

Home Hardware takes top spot among Canadian retailers for workplace culture: Forbes

CAE named to TIME’s Canada’s Best Companies 2026 list
RONA named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces in Retail and Hospitality
Viatris Canada earns spot on Best Workplaces list for 2026
AGT Products earns Great Place To Work certification

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Canada is becoming less accepting of gender diversity, new Statistics Canada data shows

Saskatchewan’s hidden workforce is ready to get to work

Canada’s energy transition needs a more diverse workforce
CIBC recognized as one of the World’s Top Disability Inclusive Businesses
Scotiabank executive Rose Porter honoured for inclusion leadership at Catalyst awards
SHRM calls for stronger Equal Employment Opportunity data framework after U.S. rescission
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