CPHR CPD:  8.0

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Schedule

Emcee

Kyle MacIsaac, Partner, Mathews Dinsdale

Kyle is a partner in the Halifax office who advises employers in all areas of workplace law.  He understands the realities of business and the issues facing employers and provides timely and practical advice and solutions to his clients.

Kyle represents provincially and federally regulated employers concerning both labour and employment matters, including those concerning human rights issues, employment standards and employment contracts, wrongful dismissal, occupational health and safety, union organizing, collective agreement interpretation, grievance handling, progressive discipline and investigations into employee misconduct.  He has appeared before various courts and tribunals throughout Canada.

In addition to his litigation practice, Kyle provides managers with practical training in all manner of human resource management topics.

Speakers

Challenges Managing Hybrid Departments This session will explore the benefits, pitfalls, and legal implications of hybrid and remote work places. We will be reviewing what to include in your employment offers, what to cover in your hybrid or remote work policies, and whether a change in a work location can be considered a constructive dismissal. We will also cover performance management, discipline and discharge, and absenteeism in a hybrid work environment.

Jessica Morrison is a labour and employment lawyer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She spent the first eight years of practice working for the Halifax office of Stewart McKelvey as an Associate in their Labour and Employment Group. In 2015 she took the leap from legal to operations by joining the Labour Relations team at a shipyard. After nearly four years as a Labour Relations Manager and living the advice she used to give to clients, she returned to the practice of law. She is currently Legal Counsel to I.M.P. Group International Inc., a diversified business that operates mainly in the federally-regulated aviation and aerospace industries.  

Mental Illness & the Duty to Accommodate in the Workplace This session will involve a review of the legal framework in the accommodation process, clarification of  employer obligations through a review of recent employment and labour law decisions, and conclude by exploring emerging challenges and best practices in managing mental health-related claims.

Sean Kelly, Partner, Stewart McKelvey

Sean practices management-side human resources, employment, labour and occupational health & safety law.  He advises a wide range of employers, from national and multinational companies to small-medium sized enterprises across a broad scope of industries, as well as clients in the public and not-for-profit sectors. 

Sean holds a certificate in mental health law in support of his practice advising employers on human rights issues including accommodation & disability management, reintegration to the workplace as well as productivity and wellness strategies.  He brings a practical and proactive approach to resolving discipline and performance management issues, workplace investigations (e.g., often involving harassment and discrimination allegations), termination and severance advice, workforce reorganizations and corporate transactions, employment agreements and executive compensation as well as post-employment and restrictive covenant litigation (e.g., non-compete and non-solicitation obligations).

Sean also has a significant advocacy practice, having appeared before all levels of Courts and Administrative Tribunals in Nova Scotia, negotiating collective agreements and litigating grievance arbitrations. 

Human Rights, Harassment and the Modern Workplace: A Primer for HR Professionals This session will explore the concept of harassment, provide an overview of employer obligations in relation to workplace harassment and consider real-life examples of harassment to help HR Professionals tackle this challenging issue.

Caroline Spindler, Associate, Mathews Dinsdale

Caroline is an associate in the Halifax Office. A Nova Scotia native, she holds a J.D. degree from the University of New Brunswick. Caroline practices in all areas of workplace law, advising and representing employers on issues involving discipline and discharge, wrongful dismissal actions, grievance arbitration, collective bargaining, human rights, and workers’ compensation matters. She also regularly assists employers with a wide range of other matters, including the preparation of employment contracts and employment policies as well as dispute resolution before labour, employment, human rights, and other administrative tribunals. Caroline has a broad understanding of the issues employers face with respect to the duty to accommodate and before law school worked as a kinesiologist performing return to work assessments.

Workplace Investigations: Tips, Tricks and Traps Workplace investigations can be a time consuming, complex and unpredictable. Investigations can end up under the microscope in arbitrations, tribunal or court proceedings. HR Professionals are often required to lead or advise on these investigations, considering the issues and facts of the situation but also must be aware of credibility assessments, burdens of proof, record keeping, report writing, collective agreements, policies, law and procedural fairness. This presentation provides helpful information on “tips, tricks and traps” to assist in your next workplace investigation.

Bryna Hatt, Founding Partner, Fraser Hatt

Bryna is the founding partner of Fraser Hatt Law. She is dedicated to providing clients with professional and timely service. She understands that clients' needs and issues are time sensitive and require a strategic and knowledgeable approach the first time.  It is with this view, she has built strong and trusting relationships with her clients. 

Bryna is an experienced negotiator. She also has significant litigation experience, appearing before all levels of the Nova Scotia Courts, labour boards, administrative tribunals and arbitrations. 

Bryna earned her law degree (LL.B) in 2007 at Dalhousie Law School (Schulich School of Law), and later went on to earn her Master of Laws (LL.M) from Osgoode Hall Law School. She is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association.

Bryna is Certified Workplace Investigator, and is an appointed Adjudicator of the Nova Scotia Small Claims Court. She has also taught Business Law at St. Francis Xavier University, in the Schwartz School of Business. 

Update on WCB and OH&S In this presentation, a brief overview of the WCB process will be provided as well as considerations for appealing decisions.  An update on specific issues will also be provided, such as return to work and accommodation, psychological injuries, apportionment and work from home accidents.  OH&S considerations with respect to WFH arrangements will also be discussed.

Amy Bradbury, Partner, Wickwire Holm

Amy has experience in all areas of labour and employment law but has particular skill and focus in Workers’ Compensation, Labour Relations, Pension and Benefits and Judicial Review.  She also provides human resource advice and assists clients in drafting workplace policies and in collective bargaining.  Amy is known for her practical advice.  She understands that each business is different and works to find solutions that fit her client’s needs.

Termination Provisions - How Perfect is Perfect? The session will explore the importance of properly worded termination provisions in employment contracts to limit severance obligations including in relation to bonus provisions . The session will also discuss post termination obligations.

Ian C. Pickard, Partner, McInnes Cooper

Ian is a Partner in our Halifax office. He provides advice daily to all kinds of employers across Nova Scotia in all matters relating to human resources, hiring, discipline and termination. Ian has successfully argued civil jury cases relating to both employment and personal injury before all levels of court in Nova Scotia; he has also appeared numerous times before the Labour Relations Board and the Labour Standards Tribunal. The skill with which Ian conducts his practice has earned him a place on the Best Lawyers in Canada list for his practice in Education law and Labour and Employment law since 2006. Ian is also listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory.

Ian acts as chief negotiator for several major employers and school boards in Atlantic Canada. He conducts collective bargaining for large and small employers in Nova Scotia and has considerable expertise in negotiating and drafting collective agreements. He frequently participates in arbitrations on behalf of employers in Nova Scotia.

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