The 2009 Accommodation Law Conference (Vancouver)
THE 2009 ACCOMMODATION LAW CONFERENCE (
New legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate and their impact on union and employer representatives in
Fairmont Hotel
May 27 & 28, 2009
Rise to the accommodation challenge! Now there is an easy way for union and employer representatives to stay on top of the latest legal breakthroughs in the duty to accommodate. Attend this state-of-the-law conference to learn what it takes to make informed accommodation decisions based on the latest developments in the law.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
Registration: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
MORNING SESSION - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Update: The Employer's Duty to Accommodate
A review of recent cases including:
· Highest court rules on undue hardship
· A duty to lay off or create work for disabled employee?
· The duty to fully consider a disabled employee's limitations and restrictions
· Are deemed-termination clauses applicable anymore?
· A duty to "warn" absentee employees prior to termination?
Update: The
A review of recent cases including:
· The union's duty to make inquiries before rejecting accommodation
· The need for the union's agreement in a last-chance agreement
· Does the union have a right to be consulted on proposed accommodations?
Update: The Employee's Duty to Cooperate
A review of recent cases including:
· Lack of cooperation may thwart duty to accommodate
· Impact of disability on employee's effort to cooperate
· Duty to inform employee of consequences of non-cooperation
· Keeping employers updated on contact information
· Employee may have to incur some discomfort in accommodation
Update: Accommodating Mental Disability
A review of recent cases including:
· Anxiety not always a disability
· Employer must probe for more information where disability vague
· Employee with bi-polar awarded damages for lack of accommodation
· Decision not to renew employment contract related to ADHD?
Update: Discipline and Accommodation
· Self-help accommodation leads to discipline
· Finding the nexus between the discipline and disability
· Lateness may be attributable to disability
AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 4:30 p.m.
Theo Arsenault and
Getting What You Need From Doctors
· What is a legitimate request for medical information?
· How do you know if the medical information is sufficient?
· What to do when the information is not satisfactory?
· What is the impact of your collective agreement language?
Update: Medical Privacy
A review of recent cases including:
· Exercising caution when using standard medical forms
· What is a "reasonable basis" for requesting medical information?
· Employee not required to disclose medical condition to coworkers
Update: Accommodating Substance Addiction
A review of recent cases including:
· "Binge drinking" part of disability?
· Workplace safety a key factor
· The enforceable last-chance agreement
· Conditional reinstatement for alcoholic employee
· Substance abuse not always a disability
Accommodating the Substance Abuser: A Step-by-step Approach
A case study demonstrating how to overcome substantial challenges faced by union and employer representatives when seeking to accommodate a drug- or alcohol-dependent employee.
THURSDAY, MAY 28
MORNING SESSION - 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Gary Bainbridge and Kevin Wilson
Accommodating the Commute to Work
· Does the duty to accommodate cover the commute to work?
· Is a longer commute to work a factor in the accommodation analysis?
· Would teleworking cause undue hardship?
Off-site Work: Accommodation Challenges and Opportunities
· Factors to consider when accommodating an employee in a home office
· Telework arrangements
· Health and safety implications of off-site work accommodation
Return-to-work Committees: Their Role in the Accommodation Process
· When can a return-to-work committee assist in the accommodation process?
· Who should sit on the committee and what should be the scope of its function?
· When should committee meetings be triggered?
Emerging Technology: How it's Changing the Duty to Accommodate
· How can new technology assist in the accommodation process?
· How might it inadvertently create a discriminatory workplace?
· When must the employer supply technology as part of its duty to accommodate?
· External-assistive devices vs. personal-assistive devices
· Voice-recognition software, hearing aids, interlock-ignition devices
AFTERNOON SESSION - 1:15 to 3:00 p.m.
Shona Moore and Michael Wagner
Accommodation Q&A
PRESENTERS
Theo Arsenault
Union Counsel
Shortt & Arsenault
Vancouver
Gary Bainbridge
Union Counsel
Bainbridge Jodouin Cheecham
Union Counsel
Fiorillo Glavin Gordon
Employer Counsel
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin
Shona Moore, Q.C.
Union Counsel
Moore & Company
Michael Wagner
Employer Counsel
Roper Greyell
Kevin Wilson
Employer Counsel
MacPherson Leslie & Tyerman
Saskatoon
Employer Counsel
Heenan Blaikie
Vancouver
Hotel accommodations
Phone hotel reservation directly at (604) 684-3131 and ask for the group rate for "Centre For Labour-Management Development." Reserve early as availability is limited.
The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is a unionized hotel.
Tuition
Individual: $795 (plus $39.75 GST = $834.75)
Group (3+ each): $745 (plus $37.25 GST = $782.25)
Super Group (7+ each): $695 (plus $34.75 GST = $729.75)
To qualify for group rates, registrants must be from the same organization, or union local, and register together.
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations must be in writing and received by May 20, 2009 in order to qualify for a full refund less a $50 administration fee. Non-compliance will result in liability for the entire tuition.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions may be made at any time.