Mandatory Covid Testing Reasonable Exercise of Management Rights

Is an employer policy requiring bi-weekly testing for COVID-19 a reasonable exercise of management rights, or is such a policy an unreasonable infringement on the workers’ rights?

In Caressant Care Nursing & Retirement Homes and Christian Labour Association of Canada (Covid Testing Grievance), Labour Arbitrator Dana Randall found that such a policy was reasonable.

Inability to Measure and Manage Risk of Harm Created by Cannabis Use Constitutes Undue Hardship: NFLD Supreme Court

Does the inability to reliably test for cannabis create an undue hardship for employers with respect to their duty to accommodate the use of medical marijuana?

In International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1620 v. Lower Churchill Transmission Construction Employers' Association Inc., 2019 NLSC 48 (CanLII), a judge of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador found to be reasonable a labour arbitrator’s earlier decision that it did.

Ontario Court Allows Random Drug Testing to Continue Pending Labour Grievance

Can they pee test me? In any discussion that I have concerning the legalization of cannabis, this is the question employees want answered. “Can I pee test them?” Is the question to which employers want answers.

In yet another case to look at the issue of random drug and alcohol tests, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113 v Toronto Transit Commission, 2017 ONSC 2078 (CanLII), Associate Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice Frank Marrocco ruled that the TTC could continue its program of random testing pending the resolution of a labour grievance filed by the union.

Supreme Court Upholds Termination for Violation of Anti-Drug Policy

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Can an employee be fired for violating his company’s drugs and alcohol policy, if the reason he violated such a policy was because he was addicted to an illegal drug?

For many years, most Ontario employment and human rights lawyers would have hesitantly answered that question with a “probably not”. Those who practice management-side would have sighed in frustration while they provided such advice, while those who act for employees would have adamantly pointed to human rights’ legislation prohibiting discrimination on the basis of such a recognized disability.

In June of 2017, the Supreme Court of Canada released its decision in the case of Stewart v. Elk Valley Coal Corp., 2017 SCC 30 (CanLII). In that case, Canada’s top court upheld a termination of employment on the basis that the employee had breached the company’s anti-alcohol and drugs policy.

Are Random Drug and Alcohol Tests Legal?

A controversial and contentious area of workplace law concerns the issue of random drug and alcohol testing. It is important to note that the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 does not specifically address the issue, thus leaving the issue to labour boards, courts, and the Human Rights Tribunals.