Client Update: Nova Scotia Labour Standard Code changes – domestic violence leave & pregnancy / parental eligibility
Following the various Stakeholder Consultations (which Stewart McKelvey participated in on behalf of Nova Scotia Employers), the Government has changed the Labour Standards Code Regulations effective January 1, 2019 to:
- a) provide for up to three days paid domestic violence leave in each calendar year (and details respecting the taking of leave are set out in the Regulations; and
- b) there is now no eligibility period for pregnancy and / or parental leave – ie. employees are eligible for such leave as soon as they are hired (this is consistent with most other jurisdictions).
Below is the Communication sent by Government to Stakeholders:
Domestic Violence Leave
The Regulations provide for domestic violence leave to be paid by the employer for up to 3 days in each calendar year. A paid day of leave must not be less than the employee’s wages for all hours they would have worked on the day of the leave. For example, if a full-time employee was scheduled to work 7 hours on the day of their leave, the employee would receive regular pay for 7 hours. Similarly, if a part-time employee was scheduled to work 4 hours, the employee would receive regular pay for 4 hours.
In addition, if an employee takes any part of a day as leave, it is counted as one full day of paid leave. An employee can determine, however, which days of leave are to be considered the paid leave days. If an employee has two-hour appointments on different days, and also requires three full consecutive days off, the employee can request that the two-hour appointments be considered unpaid domestic violence leave and that they be paid for the three full consecutive days off. If the employee does not make a specific request, however, the employer will consider their first three days off, or parts of days off, as the three paid days.
The Regulations also provide authority and support for the (draft) Notification Form to be requested by employers and completed by employees and the service providers they will be engaging with as part of the domestic violence leave.
Eligibility Period for Pregnancy and Parental Leave
The Regulations provide that there is no eligibility period for pregnancy and/or parental leave. As such, employees are eligible for pregnancy and/or parental leave as soon as they are hired.
The links to the two Regulations are:
https://www.novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/2018-208.pdf
https://www.novascotia.ca/just/regulations/regs/2018-210.pdf
This update is intended for general information only. If you have questions about the above, please contact a member of our Labour and Employment group.
Archive
THE EDITORS’ CORNER Michelle Black and Sean Kelly Trick, Treat or … Taunt? Workplace Bullying and Harassment Fall has arrived! The leaves are changing colours, families are stockpiling Halloween candy (some of which will actually last long…
Read MoreBy Jennifer Taylor – Research Lawyer With the federal election just days away, voting is on Canadians’ minds. This will be the first election conducted in accordance with the Fair Elections Act, SC 2014, c 12 [“FEA”] which…
Read MoreBy Jennifer Taylor Introduction There is now a Nova Scotia decision on the interplay between the provincial Builders’ Lien Act and the federal Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (“BIA”) in the interesting context of trusts. In Re Kel-Greg Homes Inc, Justice Rosinski…
Read MoreThe New Brunswick government is seeking feedback from stakeholders on proposed changes to the Employment Standards Act (“Act”). The proposed changes relate to: – the statutory minimum wage; – employment protections for young workers; and – coverage…
Read MoreOCTOBER 19, 2015 – FEDERAL ELECTION A Federal election has been called for Monday, October 19, 2015. Polls are open in Atlantic Canada from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Advance polls are open from…
Read MoreAs of August 1, 2015, section 4 of the Nova Scotia Automobile Tort Recovery Limitations Regulations was repealed. This section previously set the discount rate for future losses in automobile tort claims at 3.5%. The repeal…
Read MoreOn September 9, 2015, the Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board opened a consultation on draft Regulations for Pooled Registered Pension Plans (PRPPs). The draft Regulations and an FAQ are posted online. PRPPs are…
Read MoreBy Jennifer Taylor – Research Lawyer September used to mean one thing: back to school. This year, Nova Scotia lawyers get a fresh learning opportunity of a different sort. It comes in the form of the new Limitation…
Read MoreTHE EDITORS’ CORNER Michelle Black and Sean Kelly Aaah, summer – that long anticipated stretch of lazy, lingering days, free of responsibility and rife with possibility. It’s a time to hunt for insects, master handstands, practice swimming…
Read MoreThe New Public Contracting World As part of an ongoing initiative aimed at ensuring Canada only does business with ethical suppliers, Public Works and Government Services Canada (“PWGSC”) has introduced changes to its Integrity Regime…
Read More