BLURRED LINES:

WHEN PERSONAL INTERESTS BECOME AN EMPLOYER’S BUSINESS

Leading a workplace during a global pandemic is difficult enough. Toss in the challenges of managing performance and productivity remotely, COVID fatigue, and a tsunami of misinformation circulating through social media, and it’s easy to throw your hands in the air.  But don’t.  Instead, join us as we discuss the following topics:

1. Privacy, Productivity and Work-from-Home

• • Can an employer use surveillance or other monitoring to manage remote work and related productivity?
  • Key components and considerations for a remote work policy.
  • Can an employer discipline an employee for low productivity or non-compliance with an employer policy, when the employee works from home?

2. Refusal to Wear Personal Protective Equipment

• • An employee refuses to wear PPE:

1. 1. 1. Can an employer require medical documentation to support the employee’s refusal?
      2. If the reason is medical, must the employee be allowed to work in the workplace without the PPE?

3. Freedom of Expression and COVID-19
   • Can an employee be disciplined or terminated for:
     1. Engaging in behaviour outside of work that increases the risk they may contract COVID-19?
     2. Expressing “unpopular” or “dangerous” views about COVID-19 outside or inside of work (e.g., about masks or vaccination)?