Recorded on: December 15, 2020
Length: 60 minutes
Summary
When do you need to wear a mask? What do you do if your temporary layoff is made permanent? What’s behind the public health orders? Human rights lawyer Laura Track, employment lawyer Jessica Forman, and health and insurance lawyer Dionne Liu answer questions on COVID and the law in daily life.
Highlights
In this webinar, you will learn:
What the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) is and the free services it offers to members of the public. [5:30]
Whether a business can require its customers to wear a mask. [7:15]
What public health orders are and how they are made. [10:15]
The nature, scope and limits on human rights protection under the BC Human Rights Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. [15:15]
How human rights can be lawfully restricted and where a duty to accommodate arises. [19:00]
An employer’s obligations to employees who continue to work from home, including obligations relating to employee physical and mental health and safety. [22:20]
Whether an employer can require an employee to get the vaccine, or self-isolate after travel or possible COVID-19 exposure. [27:15]
What happens if you don’t comply with a public health order. [31:00]
Whether an employer can fire an employee for not following a public health order outside of work. [34:00]
Factors to consider if your temporary layoff becomes permanent. [36:50]
How to make a human rights complaint. [43:35]
Whether an employer can require an employee who travels to Alberta to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to work. [47:25]
Whether an airline can require its passengers to be vaccinated. [48:55]
Whether an employer can require that an employee be tested for COVID-19, and whether an employee could make a claim against their employer if they contracted COVID-19 at the workplace. [50:50]
What happens if you miss the one-year limitation period to file a human rights complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal. [53:10]
Featuring
Laura Track
Laura Track is a human rights lawyer and the director of the BC Human Rights Clinic, a program of the Community Legal Assistance Society. She advocates on behalf of people who have experienced discrimination and assists complainants to navigate BC’s human rights process. Laura also delivers workshops and presentations to a wide range of audiences to help people understand their human rights. She earned her law degree from UBC, and holds a Masters in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University.
Jessica Forman
Jessica Forman is an employment lawyer with Forte Workplace Law. Her practice focuses on assisting employers and employees to solve their workplace problems. Originally from California, where she attended law school and practiced as a commercial litigator, Jessica relocated to Richmond, BC over 10 years ago. She regularly conducts seminars on issues such as harassment and workplace safety.
Dionne Liu
Dionne Liu is a lawyer with Harper Grey LLP in Vancouver, practising in the firm’s health and insurance law groups. Dionne advises clients on matters relating to professional liability, personal injury, human rights, contract, property damage, administrative law, and other dispute resolution matters. She is called to the bar in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.
Attendee feedback
“COVID-related content was very interesting. Would love to hear more!”
“Thank you for continuing to put together such fantastic and timely webinars ... you are great!”
“Thank you to the panelists for your valuable information.”
“Always enjoy the sessions — very informative and get added info.”
“Thank you VERY much & seasons greetings!”
Additional resources
From CLAS:
Human Rights Clinic held on Mondays, and Human Rights Info Line
From Forte Law:
From People’s Law School:
Also:
From the BC government, their summary of public health restrictions and the full collection of BC COVID-19 public health orders and notices
From WorkSafeBC, employer health and safety requirements for workers working from home and guide for employers on managing mental health effects of COVID-19
From the Employment Standards Branch, the employment standards complaint process and protected unpaid COVID-19 leave for employees