The presentation & discussion included:

A full copy of the presentation is located on the U/C/H web page.

• The best time to outline policies re: company's hours of work, is at the beginning of an employment relationship.  Note an application that outlines the above is not an employment contract.  Be sure to include hours of work in the employee contract.
• There is a list of professions that are exempt from Overtime in the ESA.  Note:  You must examine "job duties" in order to establish if a person is exempt from OT - e.g. managerial duties.
• Six months is the length of the threshold that is considered to be the line between a temporary placement and an employee.  There are no longer fees to hire directly.  H&S site specific training is still the responsibility of the manufacturer.  The temp agencies provide general H&S training before placing a temporary worker.
• Bill 168 (new legislation re: workplace violence) is still in infancy stage - has not been passed yet.
• Workplace harassment includes: anyone in the workplace engaged in work - i.e. contractors, temps, etc.  However the victim has to be one of your workers.  Harassment can be any form and must be known to be "unwelcomed".  Victim must tell the perpetrator that it is unwelcomed before it becomes harassment.
• Workplace violence includes a "physical act".
• Both Harassment & Workplace Violence can be combined in one policy.  However it is not enough to post a policy.  An employer must also "assess risks of violence"- process and document procedure in place to minimize risks.  This is the unclear part.  This is still up in the air - law defines it as a duty but "How" to do it is another story.  One member noted that the IAPA has a list of risk factors for violence.

Discussion continued at the end of the event re: Return to Work, Modified duties, Union bumping and the above, work vs. non-work relationships.  Be sure that when you offer alternative work that you do so in writing with a return date for signature.

A Round Table Discussion allowed members to compare strategies and challenges concerning the recession.  Most companies noted that business is turning around.   Other topics discussed were tough times recruiting, sales, marketing efforts, centralized services and new products.