Jobs

Mexican and Guatemalan workers pick strawberries at the Faucher strawberry farm, Tuesday, August 24. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Long delays and rising cases deny B.C. workers justice, say critics

Some workers waiting months or years for decisions to be made

  • Jan 31, 2023

 

This June 19, 2017 file photo shows a person working on a laptop in Massachusetts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elise Amendola

Trust essential in work-from-home era, experts say, after B.C. ‘time theft’ ruling

More and more companies using technology to monitor their employees’ every move

 

Colorado Mammoth forward Brett McIntyre, front left, scores a goal against Buffalo Bandits goalie Matt Vinc, back, on June 11, 2022, in Denver. Injured players working in the US are typically eligible for workers’ compensation, but not in Canada. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pro athletes chasing workers’ compensation for their injuries

Canadian athletes not eligible if they’re injured in a game or practice, B.C. asked to change that

 

President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Fortier says that if federal public servants refuse to return-to-office by the end of March management will be left to assess each situation on a case by case basis.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Penalties for public servants who won’t go back to office to be handled individually

Federal employees still working from home will begin to transition back starting Monday

President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier speaks in the foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. Fortier says that if federal public servants refuse to return-to-office by the end of March management will be left to assess each situation on a case by case basis.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Softwood lumber is pictured in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. An estimated 300 jobs in British Columbia will likely be gone by the end of the year as Canfor Pulp Products closes the pulp line at its Prince George pulp and paper mill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Hundreds of jobs affected as Canfor announces pulp line closure at B.C. mill

Vancouver-based company blames a lack of fibre for its pulp operations

Softwood lumber is pictured in Richmond, B.C., Tuesday, April 25, 2017. An estimated 300 jobs in British Columbia will likely be gone by the end of the year as Canfor Pulp Products closes the pulp line at its Prince George pulp and paper mill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has announced extended downtime for the month of January for its divisions in Armstrong, in the North Okanagan, and Soda Creek in the Cariboo. (tolko.com)

Tolko extends downtime at mills in North Okanagan, Cariboo

Armstrong and Soda Creek divisions to be down through to end of January, then re-evaluated

Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has announced extended downtime for the month of January for its divisions in Armstrong, in the North Okanagan, and Soda Creek in the Cariboo. (tolko.com)
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)

The growing toll of job injuries you can’t see in B.C.

Workers are increasingly reporting mental health challenges and the struggle to have them recognized

  • Dec 28, 2022
In 2021, 6,532 workers reported a mental disorder claim to WorkSafeBC, a 60 per cent increase from 2017. Of them, about 37 per cent were accepted. (Credit: Pixabay)
FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

‘It is your new normal’: Canada’s aging work force root of national labour shortage

Canada’s labour force growth rate has been trending downward since 2000, and is intensifying

FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
There were 108,500 people working in the Central Okanagan in Oct. compared to 106,600 in Nov. (Black Press file photo)

Central Okanagan jobless rate highest amongst major B.C. metropolitan areas

Unemployment rate was 4.3 per cent in October and 4.9 per cent in November

There were 108,500 people working in the Central Okanagan in Oct. compared to 106,600 in Nov. (Black Press file photo)
FILE - Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York, on Dec. 20, 2018. Embattled vaping company Juul Labs announced layoffs Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, as the company tries to weather growing setbacks to its electronic cigarette business, including lawsuits, government bans and increasing competition. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Vaping company Juul cuts 400 jobs amid growing setbacks

Industry experts speculating company could soon go bankrupt

FILE - Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York, on Dec. 20, 2018. Embattled vaping company Juul Labs announced layoffs Thursday, Nov. 10, 2022, as the company tries to weather growing setbacks to its electronic cigarette business, including lawsuits, government bans and increasing competition. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Job losses will rise but won’t reach levels seen in past economic downturns: BoC

Slowdown necessary to halt inflation, says Bank of Canada governor

Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem speaks at a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the keynote speech at F8, Facebook’s developer conference, in San Jose, Calif. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, called in a sharply worded letter Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, for Facebook founder, Zuckerberg, to testify before the panel on Instagram’s effects on children. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

VIDEO: Facebook parent company Meta lays off 11,000 employees

Number represents 13% of entire Facebook, Instagram workforce

FILE - In this May 1, 2018, file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivers the keynote speech at F8, Facebook’s developer conference, in San Jose, Calif. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who heads the Senate Commerce subcommittee on consumer protection, called in a sharply worded letter Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, for Facebook founder, Zuckerberg, to testify before the panel on Instagram’s effects on children. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Plenty of online offers have the promises of making a lot of money for little effort by working from home. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

COLUMN: The unrealistic promise of big money

Pay stated in online ads is far greater than for conventional jobs

Plenty of online offers have the promises of making a lot of money for little effort by working from home. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Workers are seen around a cafe-style bar in Lightspeed’s Montreal office in an undated handout photo. When Lightspeed Commerce Inc. staff headed back to the office this year after a pandemic hiatus, they found a space double the size of their last with a restaurant serving free meals, a smoothie bar and a barista to craft custom drinks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lightspeed

Canadians companies turning to amenities to lure staff back to offices

Catered lunches, workout spaces, childcare among perks being offered by some

Workers are seen around a cafe-style bar in Lightspeed’s Montreal office in an undated handout photo. When Lightspeed Commerce Inc. staff headed back to the office this year after a pandemic hiatus, they found a space double the size of their last with a restaurant serving free meals, a smoothie bar and a barista to craft custom drinks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Lightspeed
A sign welcomes visitors to Merritt, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. The city is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining staff for the city. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Merritt to pilot four-day work week at city hall to attract workers

One-year trial will see city hall closed on Mondays

A sign welcomes visitors to Merritt, B.C., Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. The city is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining staff for the city. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
An excavator from a Wikimedia Commons file. GFL Environmental Inc. has been been handed a record WorksafeBC fine in connection with debris cleanup in the Kootenays. Wikimedia Commons file photo

Clean-up firm slapped with record WorksafeBC fine tied to lack of asbestos protection

WorkSafeBC fines GFL Environmental over $700,000 for infraction on Kimberley job site

An excavator from a Wikimedia Commons file. GFL Environmental Inc. has been been handed a record WorksafeBC fine in connection with debris cleanup in the Kootenays. Wikimedia Commons file photo
In this file photo members of the BC General Employees Union rally outside the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre. (Photo: Lauren Collins)

BCGEU bans overtime work by members as job action intensifies

Union hoping to highlight issues of under-staffing, excessive workload with latest move

In this file photo members of the BC General Employees Union rally outside the Surrey Pretrial Services Centre. (Photo: Lauren Collins)
Help Wanted signs are becoming more common as the unemployment rate has reached a record low level. (Black Press file photo)

EDITORIAL: Low unemployment rate means new challenges for employers

Canada’s population is aging and people are leaving or preparing to leave the job market

  • Aug 4, 2022
Help Wanted signs are becoming more common as the unemployment rate has reached a record low level. (Black Press file photo)
Shopify Inc. says it will layoff 10 per cent of its workforce because the company misjudged the growth of e-commerce. Shopify Inc. headquarters signage in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

‘I got this wrong:’ Shopify CEO announces plan to layoff 10 per cent of staff

Layoffs come as buyers revert to pre-pandemic shopping habits

Shopify Inc. says it will layoff 10 per cent of its workforce because the company misjudged the growth of e-commerce. Shopify Inc. headquarters signage in Ottawa on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A Sunwing aircraft is parked at Montreal Trudeau airport in Montreal on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Unifor says the Canadian government should block the WestJet Group’s takeover of Sunwing Airlines Inc. unless it can guarantee job creation and investments in workers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Unifor pushes for job guarantees in federal review of Westjet’s takeover of Sunwing

Union concerned acquisition will create lower wages, job instability

A Sunwing aircraft is parked at Montreal Trudeau airport in Montreal on Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Unifor says the Canadian government should block the WestJet Group’s takeover of Sunwing Airlines Inc. unless it can guarantee job creation and investments in workers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson