Dress Code in the Workplace – When is it Infringing on Employee Rights?

 

Many businesses impose a dress code on their employees. It is natural for business owners to want their employees to be well-dressed and well-groomed, especially when the business involves dealing with many people everyday. Coming to work in a well-groomed and well-dressed manner is one way of representing the business positively.

But is there a limitation when it comes to the kind of dress code that employers can impose? When is a dress code infringing on employee rights?

If the dress code is considered discriminatory, an employee might see this as a ground to file a lawsuit. This is why when establishing dress codes, so to it that it isn’t discriminatory in any way. For instance, you need to take into account your employees’ gender and religious beliefs. Forcing an employee to wear something that might be offensive or against their religion can be considered infringing on their employee rights.

Avoiding imposing dress codes that will sexualize employees is also important. Letting women wear only heels or tight skirts can be considered sexualizing them.

Employers should also be accommodating about the preferences and needs of their employees. If an employee is uncomfortable about a certain dress code or a complaint about how it will go against there religious beliefs is escalated, employers should listen.

If you think a dress code is infringing on your human rights, don’t hesitate to get the help of North Vancouver employment lawyers such as Lakes, Whyte LLP. Employment Lawyers in North Vancouver can also help employers develop company policies and codes that will not trample on human rights.

To know more about Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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3 Ways to Protect Your Company from Employment Disputes

Your business will be affected in so many ways if you deal with employment disputes. It could halt company operations and even cause harm to your company’s reputation. You could also become subjected to legal disputes that can lead to costly litigation. This is why all employers should go out of their way to protect their company from employment disputes. Here are some of the ways for you to protect your company from disputes:

1. Consult Vancouver employment lawyers about recruitment processes and employment contract.

As your company grows, it’s important to revisit existing employment contract and check whether there are terms that need to be changed to correspond to the needs and size of your company. Employment Lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP can help you discover more of what your company needs.

2. Hold employee orientation.

It’s important for employees to understand just what their roles are in the company and to know their responsibilities and boundaries. Holding employee orientation to new employees and providing employee hand-out can help.

3. Go out of your way to improve work relationship and employee morale.

If employees are satisfied, they are unlikely to cause problems to the company. Improve work relationship by allowing an open communication line and boost morale by providing benefits and additional perks.

If you encounter employment disputes, go ahead and seek legal advice. In fact, you would want to seek legal advice early on in your business in order to avoid experiencing monumental issues later on.

To know more about Business Law in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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How to Make Sure Your Employment Contract is Fail-Proof

An employment contract is a legal contract that binds employers and employees to a certain agreement. Both parties are expected to hold up their end of the bargain and if there are violations to the contract, one of the parties can sue the other party for breach of contract.

When drafting an employment contract, make sure it is devoid of vague clauses that can potentially cause a problem in the future. Here is how you can make sure your employment contract is fail-proof:

1. Make sure it is not violating the rights of employees and that there is nothing there that can indicate inequality and discrimination.

Know what the rights of your employees are when it comes to salary, overtime work, taxes and so on but make sure you also know the rights of your employees when it comes to being treated fairly at work. You don’t want anything in the contract that can be perceived as discriminatory.

2. Be more specific and avoid using difficult terms.

Make sure your employees understand completely the terms of the contract by explaining it clause by clause and avoiding sung highfalutin words that can be confusing.

3. Have it checked by Vancouver employment lawyers.

It’s important to let your contract be checked by Employment Lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP first to ensure that there is no omission in the contract or possible issues that can put your business at a disadvantage later.

You can avoid costly litigation problems later brought about by employment contract issues with these tips.

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Creating a Safe Working Environment is the Employer’s Responsibility

When you hire an employee, you are agreeing to provide your employee with a safe and secure working environment. If an employee experiences harm or injuries in the work place, you could potentially be sued, and this can be bad for your company.

How do you make sure that you are providing a safe working environment to your employees?

Safety of the Building and Its Premises

Employers should ensure that the office is a conducive place to work with. That means installing things like a CCTV system, smoke alarm system and even a carbon monoxide detection system. Regular maintenance of the property to fix problems like damaged stairs or elevators is also important.

Safety from Harassment and Discrimination

If there are issues about harassment and discrimination, it is the duty of the employer to investigate the matter and ensure that the people involved are implicated and the right measures are taken to ensure that it won’t happen again.

Safety When Operating Heavy Machineries and Similar Equipment

If your work requires you to operate dangerous equipment and substances, the company should provide proper safety equipment and training to ensure that you are ready to take on such a job.

Employers can try consulting Vancouver employment lawyers to understand what they need to do in order to avoid potential lawsuits due to unsafe working conditions. If you are an employee who had to work in unsafe working conditions, you can also get the help of Employment Lawyers in Vancouver like Lakes, Whyte LLP to know what to do and what kind of compensation you can get.

To know more about Business Law in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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4 Things Not to Do When Being Wrongfully Terminated

It’s normal to feel angry and confused when you’re suddenly being terminated from work. But don’t let this anger cause you to make crucial mistakes that can put you in trouble. Here are some of the things you shouldn’t do:

1. Don’t go through it alone.

A lot of employees who are wrongfully terminated just accept their fate and move on. But if you feel like you don’t deserve to be treated that way and your company still owes you compensation, you should seek the help of lawyers such as Lakes, Whyte LLP who know the ins and outs of employment law in North Vancouver.

Educate yourself when it comes to Employment Law in North Vancouver, so you know just what you are entitled to and what your rights are.

2. Don’t fight back through unethical or unprofessional means.

We become irrational when we get angry but don’t let this cause you to do bad things just to get back at the company. Let the law work for you.

3. Don’t badmouth the company on social media.

Try to stay away from social media until the anger passes and you are able to think more clearly. The things you say and post on social media can be used against you.

4. Don’t immediately sign your termination papers.

If you are presented with termination papers, read them thoroughly first and ask to take them home and have them looked by a lawyer first. You don’t want to sign documents that can prevent you from getting full compensation from your company.

Make sure you handle the issue as professionally as you can and get the help you need.

To know more about Vancouver Employment Lawyers. please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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What to Do If Your Business is Being Sued?

Someone filed a lawsuit against your business. Now what? Many business owners find themselves at a loss as to how to deal with a lawsuit because they always assume they won’t fall prey to this problem. But when dealing with different kinds of people – business associates, partners and clients alike, there’s always a chance that something will go awry, which will lead to disputes and eventually to lawsuits.

The first thing you should do is retain the services of litigation lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP. Review the case with Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver to make sure that your business is the right entity being sued. If all information is correct, you and your lawyer can then proceed with the litigation process and preservation of all necessary documents and proofs that pertain to the case. Proofs and documents can also be in the form of photos and videos. Those need to be preserved as well.

If you have a business insurance, which you should if you want to be protected from these cases, you should inform them right away of the lawsuit. Review the coverage of your business insurance as not all will cover all problems and lawsuits that your business might experience.

Discuss with your lawyer about how best to respond to the lawsuit or complaint. Talk about the possibility of denying or admitting the allegations as well as coming up with a defense. Think about the possibility of off-court settlements as well.

Every business will need the help of a lawyer at one time or another so even before you are facing a lawsuit, you would already want to look for one to partner up with.

To know more about Wills in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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How to Deal With Workplace Bullying

Bullying can happen in the workplace. But before you deal with this problem, make sure you understand what bullying really is. Don’t mistake a simple difference in opinion or constructive criticism as bullying. Most people who are bullied are attacked on a more personal level from making criticisms on their physical appearance, family or status in life. If you let this go on for a long time, it can interfere with your ability to perform well in the workplace. Many people who are bullied suffer mentally and emotionally.

Don’t wait for the bullying to worsen. It’s important to address this problem from the start to prevent it from affecting the quality of your life and the way you perform your work.

File a Complaint

The first thing you should do is file a complaint. Find out what the process of the company is when it comes to addressing these complaints. A good company should have specific protocols when it comes to addressing bullying issues. Actions must be taken immediately after you have filed a complaint. From giving warnings to transferring the bully to another department, your company must do steps that will help you out.

Get the Help of a Lawyer

If no action is done and the bullying has cost you your work and peace of mind, you can get the help of Employment Lawyers in North Vancouver. With experienced employment lawyers in North Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP, you can put an end to the bullying and resume doing your job or you can get your company to compensate you for your losses.

For more details about Estate Lawyer in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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3 Mistakes Business Owners Make When Drafting an Employment Contract

The employment contract is perhaps one of the most important documents you will have in your company. Going the extra mile in ensuring that the contract is well-written is important in order to avoid litigation issues that can hurt your business later on. 

 

Make sure you avoid the following mistakes when drafting your employment contract:

1. Not consulting North Vancouver employment lawyers.

There are many ways Employment Lawyers in North Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP will help you out. They will be able to go over your contract and identify clauses that might violate employee and human rights. An employment lawyer will also be able to suggest adding clauses that can protect your business.

2. Drafting an employment contract without understanding employment laws.

Your employment contract will be rendered invalid if there are clauses that do not comply with employment laws. This is where an employment lawyer will be able to help you out.

3. Using the same contract for all employees.

If you have different types of employees such as permanent, temporary, part-time and fixed-term employees, you should have a different contract made for each type. A generic contract might not cover all the bases when it comes to employment terms, which is unique for each type of employee.

If you have a solid employment contract, it also creates a good relationship between your company and your employees. You will be able to elicit loyalty and cooperation from them. It also establishes boundaries as well as allows employees to identify their specific roles in the company.

For more details about Business Law in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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Tips in Avoiding Will or Probate Litigation

Having someone contest the validity and the contents of a will can lengthen the process of probate. That is the last thing your surviving family members will want to do. This is why when drafting a will, make sure it is done correcting and that the contents are error-free. Here are the things you can do to prevent a will litigation with Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver : 

 

1. Get the help of a lawyer when drafting your will. 

A lot of people draft their own wills without the help of a lawyer and this can lead to a lot of mistakes and omissions. You might not go through the process correctly, rendering your will invalid or might forget to include crucial assets and properties such as insurance policies that will go through probate.

2. Talk to your family members.

Discuss about how you would like to divide your assets and properties and why you have chosen the beneficiaries. This will help curtail arguments in the family. Try to be as fair as you can and talk to family members who might have issues regarding the division of wealth.

3. Make a video.

In addition to the will, make a video explaining why you have arrived to such decisions when appointing beneficiaries of your will.

If you have been cut off from a will unfairly or you think a will is done due to undue influence, you can get the help of litigation lawyers in Vancouver to contest a will. Litigation lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP can help you in going through the process legally.

To know more about Employment Law in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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3 Mistakes Businesses Make When Dealing with a Lawsuit

A lawsuit can easily break a business. It can ruin the reputation of your business, which you might have built for years. This is why businesses should take extra care in avoiding lawsuits and ensuring they are protected from the brunt of being slapped with one.

It’s also important for business owners to be prepared for such an eventuality. Learning what to do in these cases is paramount. The following mistakes should also be avoided:

1. Ignoring the lawsuit.

There are still some business owners who think that ignoring a lawsuit will make things go away on its own. Thinking that the opposing party will not pursue the case further because going through a legal action is expensive and time-consuming is a sure-fire to be caught off-guard. If there is a lawsuit, act on it right away before things get worse.

2. Not consulting litigation lawyers in Vancouver right away.

It’s important to consult a experienced Litigation Lawyer in Vancouver litigation cases such as Lakes, Whyte LLP. The sooner you can tell your case to a lawyer, the faster it is to formulate a plan that will help you control the case and avoid a negative impact on your business.

3. Communicating with the other party without consulting litigation lawyers in Vancouver first.

Don’t reach out to the other party to try and settle things off-court without consulting a lawyer. You could be putting yourself to an even bigger legal problem.

Take every lawsuit seriously and always get the help of lawyers before attempting to negitoate or settle with the opposing party.

For more details about Wills in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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Family Tension Can Lead to Estate Litigation

According to studies, blended families as well as large families are more likely to experience family tension when the estate is being executed. This is most likely because parents who have gone through divorce are less likely to talk to their children about their plans of dividing the estate. Children also do not communicate with their parents about the estate. 

 

This family tension also prevents the members from actually bringing up the topic of estate distribution for fear that it can lead to a fight or a confrontation.

Testators must first recognize the effects of family tension when it comes to the execution of the estate. There might be a need to get the help of Litigation Lawyers in Vancouver such as Lakes, Whyte LLP later on because the family members couldn’t come to terms with the distribution of the estate.

One of the things a testator must do is to not sweep family issues under the rug. After drafting the will, the testator should organize a family meeting to discuss about the contents of the will and why the testator came up with such a decision as to how the estate is divided. This also allows the family members to ask their questions to voice out their concerns and grievances. The testator can use this opportunity to answer these questions and address the grievances so that he/she can still make changes to the will when necessary.

If you are one of those who think there is unfair distribution of assets and you want to contest a will, don’t hesitate to talk to litigation lawyers in Vancouver to help with your case.

To know more about Lawyers in North Vancouver please visit our website: lakeswhyte.com

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