Module 3

Question 1

What does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms do?

Answer 1

Guarantees fundamental rights.

Question 2

What parts of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms are the most important to HRM?

Answer 2

• Right to live and seek employment anywhere in Canada
• Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression
• Equality rights without discrimination
• Freedom of association

Question 3

What is HRL?

Answer 3

Human Rights Legislation:
- Aims for equal employment opportunity by prohibiting discrimination based on certain grounds
- Exists at federal and provincial levels
- Prohibited grounds fairly uniform across jurisdictions

Question 4

What are the 3 types of discrimination?

Answer 4

Direct, Indirect, Reverse

Question 5

What is direct discrimination?

Answer 5

Treating an employee unfairly based on prohibited ground (gender, age, disability, race)

Question 6

What is indirect discrimination?

Answer 6

Unintentional discrimination where workplace policies and practices “de facto” discriminate against employees based on a prohibited ground.

Question 7

What is reverse discrimination?

Answer 7

Treating a member of a protected group (or minority) more favourably than another employee (such as a white male employee).

Question 8

What are some examples of prohibited grounds?

Answer 8

• Sex/Gender
• Religion
• National/Ethnic Background
• Race
• Age
• Disability
• Sexual Orientation

Question 9

Explain the duty to accomodate:

Answer 9

An employee has no right to “perfect” accomodation, but the obligation to accept reasonable accomadation. If the employee refuses reasonable accomodation the employer’s duty is discharged.

Question 10

Who enforces HRL under federal jurisdiction?

Answer 10

CHRC - the Canadian Human Rights Commission

Question 11

Who enforces HRL under provincial jurisdiction (SK)?

Answer 11

SHRC - Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission

Question 12

List some contemporary issues in HRL:

Answer 12

• Drug testing
• Off-duty social media conduct
• Privacy at work

Question 13

What are major trends in workplace harassment?

Answer 13

Cyber bullying and sexual harassment.

Question 14

What is the largest issue in pay equity today?

Answer 14

The wage gap, women are still paid less than their male counterparts.

Question 15

What are employment standards (ES)?

Answer 15

Minimum standards employeers can derogate from to the advantage of the employee.
- Minimum wage
- Paid vacation

Question 16

What are the general holidays/leave days permitted in Canada?

Answer 16

• 3 weeks vacation
• Public Holidays (Canada Day, Christmas Day, etc.)
• Employment Leaves (Maternity Leave, etc.)