Labour & Employment

We help employers to respond quickly and effectively to workforce challenges by providing practical, pro-active and innovative advice on all aspects of labour and employment law, human rights and the duty to accommodate, privacy and occupational health and safety law. We draft employment contracts and personnel handbooks including internet and social media policies; advise clients on employment standards compliance issues; assist clients through difficult human rights accommodation scenarios; update clients on the latest developments in the law regarding drug and alcohol testing and privacy rights; and represent employers in front of all Labour Boards, arbitrations, Tribunals and Courts (including the Supreme Court of Canada) in relation to wrongful and constructive dismissal actions, human rights complaints, employment standards complaints, OH&S charges, Bill C-45 charges, and injunction applications to enforce non-competition agreements.

Our experience representing employers dealing with unions extends back to the very origins of trade union legislation in Western Canada. We provide advice on negotiating strategies and the dynamics of bargaining, negotiate collective agreements on behalf of management, advise on collective agreement interpretation and the grievance process, and represent employers before labour relations boards, arbitration boards and courts. Over the years we have developed comprehensive experience addressing issues such as applications for union certification, unfair labour practices and de-certifications. Our labour law practice is one of the most well-regarded in Western Canada.

We are well-versed on all aspects of compensation, pension and benefits law, including the tax implications of pension, disability and other group benefits plans and the resolution of disputes related to claims involving such plans.