Compliance Poster Company’s Newfoundland & Labrador All-On-One™ Labor Law Poster has been updated with several labor law changes that impact employer responsibilities and policies, and employee rights. These changes apply to all employers in the province.
Minimum Wage Increase Oct. 1
One change that may have the greatest impact is a 25-cent increase in the province’s minimum wage from $10.00 per hour to $10.25 per hour effective October 1, 2014. The province expects to conduct a further review of the minimum wage in 2015.
Prohibited Types of Discrimination
The Human Rights Act has been amended to include gender identity and gender expression as grounds protected from discrimination. Under the Act, discrimination on the basis of any protected ground is prohibited in employment; the provision goods, services, accommodations and facilities; occupancy of commercial or residential units; and contracts and advertising. Employers and service providers also have a duty to accommodate individuals on any enumerated ground if the individual can be accommodated without undue hardship.
The HRA Guidelines explain that:
- “Gender identity” refers to each person’s internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond with the sex the individual was assigned at birth; and
- “Gender expression” refers to how a person publicly presents their gender though behavior or outward appearance such as dress, hair, make-up, body language, voice, or chosen name.
New Employee Leaves from Work Authorized
Newfoundland & Labrador recognizes two new employee unpaid leaves from work: Critically Ill Child Care Leave and Crime-related Child Death or Disappearance Leave. Both leaves are available to a parent of the child, the parent’s spouse or cohabitating partner, an adoptive or foster parent of the child, or the child’s custodian or caregiver who is regarded as a close relative. Duration of the leave depends on the nature of the leave requested:
- Critically Ill Child Care Leave – Up to 37 weeks;
- Crime-related Child Death of Disappearance Leave, on account of disappearance – Up to 52 weeks; and
- Crime-related Child Death of Disappearance Leave, on account of death – Up to 104 weeks leave.
Employers should update to the new Newfoundland & Labrador All-On-One Labor Law Poster to ensure employees have the most current information concerning their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.