Payroll Reporter
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adian adian a
www.payroll-reporter.com
July 2017
Alberta overhauls rules for workplace
Unpaid leaves, holiday pay
among legislative alterations
BY SHEILA BRAWN
THE ALBERTA government is planning to make
sweeping changes to its employment standards law
next year that will affect payroll administration in the
province.
In June, the province's legislative assembly passed
Bill 17, the Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act.
The bill amends many sections in the Employment
Standards Code and introduces a number of new un-
paid leaves. It also make broad changes to the prov-
ince's Labour Relations Code, which covers union-
ization and collective agreements.
With the exception of changes affecting youth em-
ployment, the employment standards amendments
will come into force Jan. 1, 2018.
"The rules that govern our workplaces haven't
been updated since 1988," Labour Minister Chris-
tina Gray said when she tabled the bill. "That's nearly
three decades with no major changes, just some
see ROUNDUP page 4
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Legislative Roundup
Changes in payroll laws and regulations
from across Canada
see VACATION page 6
Credit:
Todd
Korol/Reuters
Summer a stressful
season for staff
Holidays granting employees time away
means payroll has no time to play
BY SHEILA BRAWN
WHILE VACATIONS are often a time for employees to unwind and
relax away from work, vacation administration can create added
stress for payroll professionals.
How much vacation pay is an employee owed? Is there a deadline
for paying it? Which types of earnings are included when calculating
vacation pay? These are just some of the questions payroll profession-
als must answer to ensure that their employer complies with legislated
vacation pay rules.
While it is essential that payroll professionals comply with all
employment standards vacation requirements, one of the most
Alberta
Employment standards protections
to cover some farm workers
Paid, non-family farm workers in Alberta will be covered under
more provisions in employment standards law beginning January
1, 2018.
In June, the province's legislative assembly passed Bill 17, the
Fair and Family-friendly Workplaces Act. The bill makes wide-
ranging changes to the Employment Standards Code and the La-
bour Relations Code.
While requirements for paying earnings, employee records,
unpaid leaves, and terminations already apply to paid, non-family
farm workers, the amendments will make them eligible for paid
see CHANGES page 2
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salary policies: Survey | Special tax
measures to aid Quebec fl ood victims