Duties and Responsibilities in the Accommodation Process

"Balancing Employer Policies and Employee Rights: The Role of Legislation in Addressing Workplace Alcohol and Drug Testing Programs", 46:1 Alberta L Rev 141

A brief discussion of pre-employment drug testing. Discusses the law on when a drug dependency is required to be accommodated, the justification for drug testing, and the workplace health and safety plans to support testing. It discusses when pre-employment, pre-access, random drug testing and zero tolerance policies are discriminatory. It discusses the implications of medical cannabis and recreational use. Discusses a decision where the lack of cannabis testing that could determine impairment was found to be undue hardship.

"Disability Disclosure in the Digital Age: Why the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Should Reform Its Approach to Anonymized Decisions" 25 Journal of L and Social Policy 109

The article gives a significant review of the OHRT adjudication of requests for anonymity in disability cases and discussed the risk of disclosure. It further discusses the balancing of the open courts principle vrs. the right to privacy; the right to privacy vrs. freedom of the press. 

"The Duty to Accommodate in the Canadian Workplace: Leading Principles and Recent Cases" Ontario Federation of Labour

Discusses leading principals of accommodation law. A review of the legal standard of accommodation and undue hardship. Reviews unions duties in the accommodation process and their potential liabilities. reviews Reviews case law on employees’ duty to participate in the accommodation process and under what grounds the employee can refuse the employer offered accommodation. reviews the duty to accommodate mental health and addiction disabilties and culpable vrs. non-culpable behavior. Brief discussion of perceived disability and drug testing. Reviews case law on employees privacy rights vs.

"Disability and the Implementation of the Accommodation Duty in the Canadian Workplace by Labour Arbitrators" as an updated version of his article published in R. Echlin & C. Paliare (eds), Law Society of Upper Canada Special Lectures 2007: Employment Law

General overview of main human rights values in employment; disability law; leading principles of accommodation, undue hardship , legitimate operational requirements of a workplace, responsibilities of unions in employment disputes; employees responsibilities. 

"A Doctor's Note a Day Keeps Employers at Bay", as Tab 13 of The Law Society of Upper Canada's Continuing Professional Development program June 20, 2017 titled The Six Minute Employment Lawyer 2017

Provides a concise description of the duty to accommodate, then moves to the common types of medical documentation requested by employers, examples of independent medical examinations; explains the relevant ORHC policies; the impact of privacy legislation and relevant cases. 

"The Doctor's Role in the Accommodation Process - Employer's Right to Medical and Other Evidence", as Tab 4 of The Law Society of Upper Canada's Continuing Professional Development conference on June 16, 2016 titled The Duty to Accommodate in the Workplac

View of adjudicator's attempt to balance between right to privacy and right to information regarding accommodation needs; discusses cases where employee refuses to provide the necessary documents during the process.

"Mental Health and the Workplace: Important Issues for HR Professionals to Consider" Norton Rose LLP for the Canadian Industrial Relations Association (CIRA)

Canvesses the law on medical information disclosure requirements. Discusses how adjudicators seek to balance the employee’s right to privacy with the employer’s right to manage the workplace, maintain safety, and expect a certain level of performance. The article reviews the employee’s obligation to disclose medical information for the employer to assess the employees fitness to work or to assess reasonable accommodations or as necessary for hearing and what type of information may be requested. Discusses the employees right to refuse disclosure and the consequences.

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