Where We Are Now with COVID-19 and the New Normal: Legal Update for Recreation Facility Employers

ORFA COVID-19 Webinar Series

Where We Are Now with COVID-19 and the New Normal: Legal Update for Recreation Facility Employers

Wednesday, August 5, 2020, Online

As Ontario’s economy begins to re-open amidst the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, Recreation Facility Employers are faced with new challenges ranging from managing employee recalls, maintaining health and safety in their operations and addressing COVID-19 related work refusals. On the forefront of everyone’s mind is how to safely and efficiently transition to the new normal. Join Jamie Knight and Lucas Mapplebeck from Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP on August 5, 2020 for a one hour Webinar to discuss the current COVID-19 workplace issues. Jamie and Lucas will address the lessons learned so far with a practical view to managing the challenges that Recreational Facility Employers will face in the months to come.

Topics will include:

1. Managing the Return to Work- an overview of best practices for navigating the early months of the re-opening, and the associated legal pitfalls from a labour and employment law perspective.
2. Addressing Work Refusals - an update on the law in respect of work refusals, valid reasons for employees to refuse to return, how to deal with invalid refusals and the right to request supporting documentation.
3. Doing the Work Safely - a discussion of the relevant public health legislation, maximizing worker safety from infectious diseases, and how Recreational Facility Employers should conduct COVID-19 hazard assessments.
4. Working from Home – overview of the legal and practical implications involved when staff work from home.
5. New Human Rights Issues – a discussion of the human rights considerations that have emerged as a result of COVID-19 with a special focus on family status issues.

Jamie and Lucas will be addressing questions at the end of the Webinar and will also provide a follow up briefing to address any questions they do not get to in the time allotted.

Presenters: Jamie Knight, LL.B., Partner, and Lucas Mapplebeck, LL.B., Associate, Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP

Jamie is a partner in the Hamilton and Toronto offices of Filion Wakely Thorup Angeletti LLP. The firm is part of the international law firm alliance L&E Global, which has some 1200 employment and labour lawyers operating in 18 countries, including the highly regarded Jackson Lewis firm with over 50 offices in the United States. Jamie has over 30 years of experience representing management as a labour and employment lawyer, including regular appearances before the courts, arbitration boards, labour relations tribunals, as well as participating in adjudications in human rights, employment standards and health and safety matters. Jamie also has extensive experience in collective bargaining and assisting employers in interacting with trade unions. Jamie’s clients are in various sectors, including manufacturing, entertainment, construction, food and cleaning services, municipalities, health and financial services. Jamie is often asked to sit as an employer nominee on interest arbitration boards.

This course is worth 1 professional development credits towards recertification of any ORFA professional designation