Guards ill after exposure to TB
Hamilton — As many as five jail guards at an Ontario correctional facility who were exposed to an inmate with tuberculosis have filed claims with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board after testing positive for the potentially deadly lung disease. The guards’ union, the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, is encouraging other guards to also file claims. The guards were not told a female inmate was infected until the day she left the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre Dec. 15. Inmates are to be tested for TB when they arrive at a correctional facility, according to Ministry of Correctional Services policy.
College grads finding work
Toronto — Most students graduating from Ontario colleges found jobs within six months of graduation and almost two-thirds of those found work in their area of study, according to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Employment Profile of college graduates released early this month stated 90 per cent of college graduates found jobs in six months, and 91.3 per cent of employers were very satisfied with the level of training and work preparation their employees had received. “This demonstrates that students are making informed choices about programs that are successfully preparing them for jobs in the workforce,” said Dianne Cunningham, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Calling in sick or playing hooky?
Mississauga, Ont. — Ever wondered if an employee who calls in sick is really sick? A recent poll, conducted by the manufacturers of Buckley’s Mixture Cough Medicine, found that on average 38 per cent of employees who call in sick are just playing hooky for the day and 28 per cent of those are bringing their spouses along for the day off. In Quebec the number is higher, with 67 per cent of employees faking illness to take the day off work. Ontario also ranked higher than the national average, with 42 per cent of employees lying. Of the 615 Canadian employees surveyed, almost half said they lied to take the day off because of much needed rest and relaxation. Employees used the time off for shopping, housework, skiing and golfing. The poll also found that three-quarters of survey respondents take one or more days off a year due to genuine illness.
Second N.B. minimum wage increase in a year
Fredericton — For the second time in little over a year, New Brunswick has increased its minimum wage. A 15-cent-an-hour increase will take effect July 1, 2001 bringing the minimum wage to $5.90 per hour. A 25-cent increase was implemented at the beginning of last year. A series of “family-friendly” amendments to the province’s Employment Standards Act were also passed in the legislature last month. For a listing of minimum wages across the country see www.hrreporter.com/compensation.
Alberta studying parental leave
Edmonton — A committee struck by the Alberta government to examine the ramifications and desirability of extending parental leave rights to 52 weeks duration is due to hand in its report by the end of January. Check www.hrreporter.com for the report’s release.
Hamilton — As many as five jail guards at an Ontario correctional facility who were exposed to an inmate with tuberculosis have filed claims with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board after testing positive for the potentially deadly lung disease. The guards’ union, the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union, is encouraging other guards to also file claims. The guards were not told a female inmate was infected until the day she left the Hamilton-Wentworth Detention Centre Dec. 15. Inmates are to be tested for TB when they arrive at a correctional facility, according to Ministry of Correctional Services policy.
College grads finding work
Toronto — Most students graduating from Ontario colleges found jobs within six months of graduation and almost two-thirds of those found work in their area of study, according to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Employment Profile of college graduates released early this month stated 90 per cent of college graduates found jobs in six months, and 91.3 per cent of employers were very satisfied with the level of training and work preparation their employees had received. “This demonstrates that students are making informed choices about programs that are successfully preparing them for jobs in the workforce,” said Dianne Cunningham, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
Calling in sick or playing hooky?
Mississauga, Ont. — Ever wondered if an employee who calls in sick is really sick? A recent poll, conducted by the manufacturers of Buckley’s Mixture Cough Medicine, found that on average 38 per cent of employees who call in sick are just playing hooky for the day and 28 per cent of those are bringing their spouses along for the day off. In Quebec the number is higher, with 67 per cent of employees faking illness to take the day off work. Ontario also ranked higher than the national average, with 42 per cent of employees lying. Of the 615 Canadian employees surveyed, almost half said they lied to take the day off because of much needed rest and relaxation. Employees used the time off for shopping, housework, skiing and golfing. The poll also found that three-quarters of survey respondents take one or more days off a year due to genuine illness.
Second N.B. minimum wage increase in a year
Fredericton — For the second time in little over a year, New Brunswick has increased its minimum wage. A 15-cent-an-hour increase will take effect July 1, 2001 bringing the minimum wage to $5.90 per hour. A 25-cent increase was implemented at the beginning of last year. A series of “family-friendly” amendments to the province’s Employment Standards Act were also passed in the legislature last month. For a listing of minimum wages across the country see www.hrreporter.com/compensation.
Alberta studying parental leave
Edmonton — A committee struck by the Alberta government to examine the ramifications and desirability of extending parental leave rights to 52 weeks duration is due to hand in its report by the end of January. Check www.hrreporter.com for the report’s release.
