Examining Employment Law – How to Protect Employees and Regulate Companies

During the last 50 years, many legislators have created statutes that can protect employees, and some statutes could regulate hazardous workplaces, improve the rights of employees, control the minimum wage and provide paid vacations. The statutes can also help disabled citizens to find jobs, and the laws will require most employers to accommodate disabled employees. Usually, these laws can improve the satisfaction of many employees, yet the statutes could also help companies to retain experienced employees.

1. Examining the Minimum Wage in Each Region

In Canada, each province has local statutes that regulate the minimum wage, and the legislators may increase the minimum wage annually. When an employee is working in Ontario, the minimum wage is $15 per hour, yet in Nunavut, the minimum wage is $16 per hour. Usually, a full-time employee should earn at least $31,000 during each year.

2. Protecting the Employees

During the 1970s, many legislators approved the Canadian Human Rights Act, and this statute can protect employees, provide equal opportunities and regulate many types of companies. The law also protects disabled citizens who are searching for a job. If an employee contacts employment lawyers, the experienced attorneys can describe the statute, the local regulations and multiple types of provisions.

3. Inspecting Hazardous Workplaces

If a workplace contains hazardous products, the employer must disclose reports that describe the hazardous products, the health effects of the products and the name of each product. The employer should also create labels that will help the employees to identify the hazardous products.

Typically, regulators will frequently inspect workplaces that contain hazardous products, and the experts can examine the location of each product, the labels, the layout of the workplace and multiple types of safety guidelines. If the employees wear protective equipment, the regulators may also evaluate the effectiveness of the equipment, the manufacturer of the products and the durability of the equipment.

4. Receiving Overtime Pay

Many employees request overtime because the workers can earn extra money, and if an employer provides overtime, the company will typically increase the hourly wage by 50 percent. According to many surveys, at least 15 percent of employees request overtime during each week.

Currently, independent contractors do not receive extra pay, and usually, the independent contractors can control their schedules, adjust their working hours and modify their workspace. In Canada, many statutes will not affect companies that hire independent contractors. If an independent contractor has any questions about employment law, the contractor may contact employment lawyers, and the attorneys can examine local regulations, review the legal definition of an independent contractor, examine the requirements of each employer and evaluate the terms of multiple contracts.