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Gail Johnson #Papaveri #Gail #Johnson #GailJohnson #Papavero #Fiore #Fiori Flower #Flowers #Poppies #Poppy #Kunst #Konst #Művészet #Fan #Āto #искусство #Arte #Art #ArteVersoMarte https://www.instagram.com/p/B05o0V0K9tB/?igshid=1l7cslnn4pbgy

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Smooth Jazz Session Mix Vol.117 🎷🎷🎷Best Smooth Jazz

Digital Crate Digging Continues on a Terrible / Terrific Tuesday! it can go either way!! Hopefully the day will proceed in a positive fashion!! We’re trying to get our minds right lisening to  Smooth Jazz Session Mix Vol.117 ; Best Smooth Jazz courtesy of   Smooth Jazz Nation Power .  DJ Equip Mode is on the mix! Check out the playlist and the mix!! Track List: 1. Jessy J – Una Mas 2. Steve Laury…

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2015′s worst entry-level jobs

The results are in: if you work as a floor assembler, you have the worst entry-level job out there.

That’s according to WalletHub’s 2015 Entry-Level Jobs Report, which looks at the first-timer employment landscape by comparing 109 different types of entry-level positions based on 11 key metrics, such as starting salary, industry growth rate, and injury rate.

For high-school students getting ready to graduate, here are the top 10 jobs to steer clear of.

- Floor assembler: The median annual salary is $35,467, according to Salary.com. The job involves simple, routine, and repetitive tasks involving physical labour and the use of  hand and power tools, all while working under close supervision.  Also of note: “Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment,” Salary.com says in its job description.

- Sheetmetal mechanic: Plan on spending your days setting up and operating machines such as drill presses, punch presses, shears, bending rolls, brakes, and grinders while following blueprints, rough sketches or engineer drawings to shape metal accurately. On the positive side, if you stick with it and progress to Level II, you stand to make anywhere from $43,460 to $74,449 a year, according to Salary.com (which doesn’t list salaries for Level 1). Fun fact: Centuries ago, sheet metal was used to make body armour for men in a cavalry, according to eHow.

- Refinery operator: Whether it’s producing gasoline, kerosene, or other substances, here’s some of what the an operator does all day, according to Careers.com: “moves and sets controls, such as knobs, valves, switches, levers, and index arms on control panels to control process variables, such as flows, temperatures, pressures, vacuum, time, catalyst, and chemicals by automatic regulation and remote control of processing units such as heaters, furnaces, compressors, exchangers, reactors…” The list goes on.

- Consumer loan servicing clerk: When someone applies for a mortgage or home equity loan, it’s this person’s job to make sure all the documentation is in order, such as a title report and appraisal, and fast. Lots of data entry and phone calls.

- Claims processing clerk: Here’s a snippet of Salary.com’s job description: “Reviews claims forms and documents for accuracy and completion and obtains missing information as necessary. Determines claims coverage by examining company records. Responsible for calculating claims amounts and submitting claims for payment. Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent.” The median salary is $42,667.

- Boilermaker: This job ranked as one of the most dangerous on WalletHub’s list. Occupational diseases related to boilermakers include asbestosis, respiratory diseases, cancer, skin disorders, and neurological conditions, with workers exposed to toxic substances such as asbestos, ammonia gas, PVC, benzene, coal tar, ultraviolet light, and solvents, according to the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada, boilermakers build, erect, repair, test and maintain all types of boilers, tanks, and pressure vessels and perform all types of structural and plate work on dust, air, gas, steam, oil, water and other liquid-tight containers. They shape metal, cut metal plate and brackets using an oxy-fuel torch, and fit and tack weld parts together using electric arc welding equipment.  According to the brotherhood, hourly wages across the country in 2013 ranged from $29.09 in Newfoundland and Labrador to $41.84 in Alberta. Fun fact: Boilermaking was recognized as a stand-alone craft more than 300 years ago.

- Electronics assembler: Here’s what these people do in a typical day, according to CareerPlanner.com:  “Crimps, stakes, screws, bolts, rivets, welds, solders, cements, press fits, or performs similar operations to join or secure parts in place, using hand tools, power tools, machines, and equipment.”

That’s not all: “Mounts assembled components, such as transformers, resistors, transistors, capacitors, integrated circuits, and sockets on chassis panel.”

- Policy processing clerk: See claims processing clerk and consumer loan servicing clerk above for an idea of a typical day’s work, only here you’re dealing with insurance policies.

- Building inspector: Most building inspectors are employed by governmental agencies like municipal building departments, according to CareerOverview.com.  They make sure that structures comply with local building codes and regulations concerning zoning. “They inspect the area before the foundation is even built, check the depth of the footings, and make sure the land on which the structure is built is stable,” the website states. “Also, inspectors look at both structural soundness and fire safety. Based on the size and kind of structure, the surrounding buildings, and what will be kept in the building, they make sure that buildings have proper sprinkler systems, smoke control, emergency exits, and alarm systems. Which, compared to the tasks of an electronics assembler, doesn’t sound so bad.

- Welder: This is another very dangerous job, with starting salaries throughout the country ranging from $37,919 to $55,317, according to Salary.com. You need to joins, fabricate, and repair metal and other weldable material by applying appropriate welding techniques. According to Medic8, common injuries are those to the eyes and the skin. Welding produces ultra-violet and infra-red radiation which heats the surface of the skin causing burns. It can also damage the surface of the eyes in a condition known as ‘arc eye’.

That’s not all: Intense heat is produced during the welding process, and fumes can cause a range of respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or occupational asthma, Medic8 says. Manganese poisoning is caused by the inhalation of manganese fumes produced when working with carbon steel and can lead to serious side effects, including slurred speech and Parkinson’s disease

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Buyer beware: The most dangerous products to order online

A mother in Britain is mourning the loss of her 21-year-old daughter after the woman consumed diet pills she’d purchased online.

Eloise Aimee Parry accidentally overdosed on pills that contained the toxic ingredient dinitrophenol (DNP). A lethal dose is two tablets; Parry had taken eight.

The tragedy prompted police to remind people about the dangers of buying slimming pills or other medicines or supplements over the Internet.  “Substances from unregistered websites could put your health at risk, as they could be extremely harmful, out of date, or fake,” Chief Inspector Jennifer Mattinson told the Guardian.  

Diet pills are just one item to avoid buying online. Here are a few other products that you’re better off buying at a bricks-and-mortar store after consulting a qualified health professional.

Prescription drugs without a prescription

There are legitimate pharmacies out there, but also many that are not. Referred to as rogue websites, they may sell controlled substances such as narcotic pain relievers (such as OxyContin or Vicodin), sedatives (such as Valium or Xanax), stimulants (like Ritalin) and other drugs that require a prescription. By bypassing this basic route, you could be putting yourself at risk.

Health Canada urges consumers to not do business with websites that refuse to give you a street address, telephone number, and a way of contacting a pharmacist; claim to have a “miracle cure" for any serious condition; or sell products that do not have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number issued by Health Canada.

“You have no way of knowing where these companies are located, where they get their drugs, what is in their drugs, or how to reach them if there is a problem,” Health Canada states on its website. “If you order from these sites, you may get counterfeit drugs with no active ingredients, drugs with the wrong ingredients, drugs with dangerous additives, or drugs past their expiry date.”

According to the World Health Organization, medicines purchased over the Internet from sites that conceal their physical address are counterfeit in more than 50 per cent of cases.

“Any kind of product can be and has been counterfeited: expensive lifestyle and anti-cancer medicines, antibiotics, medicines for hypertension and cholesterol lowering drugs, hormones, steroids and inexpensive generic versions of simple pain killers and antihistamines,” WHO’s website says.

In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action against more than 9,600 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription medicines to consumers. The federal body issued regulatory warnings and seized more than US$41,104,386 worth of illegal medicines worldwide.

“Many of these websites appeared to be operating as a part of an organized criminal network that falsely purported its websites to be ‘Canadian Pharmacies’,” the FDA said in a press release. 

Accutane (Isotretinoin)

Used to treat severe nodular acne, this is a vitamin A derivative that belongs to a class of medications called retinoids. If taken by pregnant women, isotretinoin products can cause severely deformed babies or result in miscarriages, according to Health Canada. The drug has also been linked to depression and suicide and can increase the risk of developing diabetes, liver disease, or heart disease in people with a family history.  

“I certainly do not recommend buying Accutane online,” says Annapolis dermatologist Lisa Kates on RealSelf, a resource dedicated to dermatology, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and elective treatments. “I do not believe you [will] find another dermatologist who will recommend you to do this either. While this can be a great medication, it needs to be closely monitored. If not used properly or monitored, it can have very serious side effects.  In addition, when you purchase products online you really are not sure of what it is you are getting.  It is not worth chancing.”

Viagra (Sildenafil citrate)

It’s not clear how much of the often-mocked drug for erectile dysfunction available online is counterfeit, but regardless, taking fake Viagra can have serious health effects.

Some of the ingredients that have been found in confiscated counterfeit Viagra include blue printer ink, speed or amphetamine, the antibiotic Metronidazole (Flagyl), drywall, plaster, and substances used to mimic the colour and texture of the real blue pills, according to Forbes.

People with some heart conditions should not take sildenafil citrate tablets because of the potential for serious side effects.

“Given the increasing reports of deaths in which the use of Viagra may be implicated, clinicians need to exercise caution when advising their patients with heart disease about taking this medication,” notes the American Heart Association. 

Medical devices, including condoms and contact lenses

As defined by Health Canada, medical devices also include pacemakers, blood-pressure monitors, and blood-glucose monitors.

Certain devices, like automatic blood-pressure monitors, must have a Canadian Medical Device Licence before they can be legally sold in Canada; it’s possible that some of those sold online won’t have the required licence.

There are other potential problems buying devices online.

“You may get a product that has been recalled because of safety concerns,” according to Health Canada. “You may receive a product that has not been stored properly. Some medical devices must be refrigerated until used, while others should never be frozen or exposed to heat. When you order a device from an unreliable website, you do not know where the product has been stored or for how long.”

Contact lenses, meanwhile, should only be purchased after a proper evaluation and fitting by an eye-care practitioner.  

Breast milk

There’s a saying new moms learn early on: “breast is best”. However, not all women are able to breastfeed.  According to the British Medical Journal, as many as three quarters of new mothers subsequently look to the Internet for guidance.

Buying breast milk online is an unregulated industry, and the product can be contaminated with bacteria if not stored or shipped properly, viruses like hepatitis or HIV, prescription medications, and illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, a new study published in the journal Pediatrics found that 10 per cent of human milk for sale online contained cow’s milk, which can cause allergic reactions in infants. “Because buyers cannot verify the composition of milk they purchase, all should be aware that it might be adulterated with cow’s milk,” the study says.

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New immigrants to Canada face unexpected costs

When Mehmet Gulec looks back on the days and weeks following his family’s arrival in Canada from Turkey in December 2013, he says he’s still amazed by everything the foursome overcame in fleeing their homeland. It wasn’t just the severe ice storm that hit Burlington, Ontario, three days after they landed there that they found challenging. So too was getting settled in their new country with extremely limited means.

“We came -- four people -- with $1,000 Canadian cash,” Gulec says of his wife and two sons. “We survived, and when I turn back even myself I cannot understand how we did it. It was because we were not alone: Canadians are unbelievable people.”

Gulec, who worked for 20 years as a production manager in the automotive industry in Turkey, says several organizations helped the family get established, including the Centre for Skills Development & Training, which offers a program called Enhanced Language Training to help immigrants who are beginning their careers in Canada. Gulec is now working as quality-assurance engineer in the food industry.

He’s thankful to call Canada home, but like so many newcomers, he was overwhelmed by financial matters at the outset.

According to a new study by BMO Wealth Management, immigrants arrive here with an average of $47,000 in savings to help them get settled, while 19 per cent come with no savings at all. The study is the first in a series called Making the Financial Transition, which will examine several financial issues related to those who have moved to Canada within the last 10 years. 

The inaugural report also revealed that, after all initial expenses associated with getting settled, immigrants are left with an average of $20,000. Fifty-three percent of newcomers use their remaining money to save for retirement; 49 percent save it for their kids’ education; 44 per cent save it for a large purchase such as a home or a car, and 36 per cent save it for a trip.

Two thirds send a portion of their money (an average of $2,300) back home to friends or family, with 17 per cent doing so monthly.

“It can be daunting for many people, especially when coming over with a family, to be settling in a completely new environment with a new language and to be thinking about school, buying a house, buying a car, connecting with family back home; there’s a lot to consider,” says Julie Barker-Merz, president of BMO InvestorLine. .”What’s encouraging is that those Canadians who’ve been in Canada less than 10 years are really doing a good job managing their finances.”

For people like Gulec, however, there were some shocks when it came to certain expenses.

“Food prices, especially fruit and vegetable prices, are four to five times more expensive than Turkey,” he says. “I wasn't expecting that much difference. And in Turkey we’re used to tax being included in prices. If you have limited money in your pocket and no credit card like me it was really hard to calculate how much I was going to have to pay the cashier.”

Melissa Pedersen, coordinator of immigrant services at the Centre for Skills Development & Training, says that clients often report the stress of finding employment as just one of the financial challenges they encounter.

“The cost of financing housing is sometimes unexpected,” Pedersen says. “When renting, clients are often asked to pay rent in advance for between three months to up to one year upfront.”

Transportation expenses can also be prohibitive, particularly in areas such as Halton, Ontario, that lack the infrastructure of large urban areas.

“In order to access services and training, newcomers are often forced to buy a car upon arrival, taking from monies saved to settle,” Pedersen explains. “Car insurance here is extremely expensive relative to insurance--if they even require it--in clients’ countries, as is the cost of gas and car maintenance.”

The cost of child care is also unexpectedly expensive: close to $2,000 per month for a child younger than two and a half and $1,500 per month for a preschooler. “At the same time,  a minimum wage job--the first job for many--brings $1,800 per month income,” Pedersen says. “The wait-lists for subsidized child care are very long.”

The costs of heating and electricity are also high in newcomers’ eyes. “Many who come from warmer climates report very high expenses in the colder months as they struggle to stay warm,” Pedersen says.

She notes that those who don’t have a job soon after arrival need to apply for financial support or social services. If they don’t find well-paying employment, the funds they brought with them are quickly exhausted .

According to the BMO report, the most common reasons people choose to immigrate to Canada are to be safe (46 per cent), to live in a different country (42 per cent), to get a better job (38 per cent), to improve their education (36 per cent), and to have access to better government programs (33 per cent).

Sixty-seven per cent of immigrants say their standard of living has improved since coming to Canada, with 27 per cent saying it has improved greatly. 

“Since we came to Burlington I realized that people were very friendly, polite and helpful,” Gulec says. “We are very happy to be and live here.”

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Tax Error? What to do when you have to refile

Taxes aren’t fun to deal with at the best of times, but you may find yourself even more irked if you get a T4 amendment in the mail.

The good news is that it’s not uncommon to receive such a notice.

“Amended T4s are generally sent out to correct errors,” says James Bell, director of Tax Solutions Canada, who worked at the Canada Revenue Agency for 22 years before starting his company in 2013. Those errors are on behalf of the employer, which means there’s nothing you can do to prevent getting one.

“T4s get amended because of an oversight on the part of the employer,” Bell says. “It’s a routine occurrence,” he adds. “It happens all the time.”

Reasons a “Statement of Remuneration Paid” could be amended are wide-ranging; examples include improper classification of an amount (such as the under- or over-reporting of income), improper calculation of benefits to employees who participate in a stock-purchase plan, or the lack of inclusion of other taxable benefits or an incorrect tally of those benefits.

While amendments are common, they can still make people nervous.

“Amendments are straightforward, and it’s very routine for people to receive these things, but it can cause a lot of confusion and upset and misunderstanding,” Bell says. “Most people are puzzled about why they would get an amended T4.”

Caroline Battista, a senior tax analyst at H&R Block, says that it helps to understand what your taxable benefits are should you ever be faced with an amendment.

“I would hazard a guess that at least 50 percent of the time if you ask people what their taxable benefits are, they don’t know,” Battista says. “Know what your taxable benefits are, especially when you’re getting a new job.”

Here are some examples: let’s say you win a $10,000 trip or NHL playoff tickets through work. “You’re still paying tax on the value of that trip or those tickets,” Battista says.

The parking spot that’s you get as a perk? You have to pay tax on the value of that, too.  

Battista notes that if you’ve already filed your taxes but then receive an amended T4, you need to submit an adjustment with that new slip. She says it’s easy to do electronically via the CRA’s My Account. Those forms can be mailed in too.

If you don’t understand or disagree with the amendment, Bell suggests talking to your office’s payroll or HR department first.

If you still don’t agree with the amendment, then you can file a notice of objection to dispute it.

“The CRA has a formal dispute mechanism in place for you,” Bell says. “It’s important to make sure that, if there is a dispute and you don’t understand it or disagree with what employer has done, you protect yourself by filing that notice of objection. It’s the only formal way to protect your rights, and that’s what you should do. You do have a formal legislative process to go through to make your case with the CRA.”

Whatever you do, if you receive an amendment, make sure you get it sorted out.

There’s no need to panic at all,” Bell says. “However, it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored; they really do have to deal with it.”

The sooner the better: “Deal with it right away,” Battista says. “An amendment doesn’t mean it’s been done or that the CRA has refiled for you. Don’t just think the CRA will process it; deal with it because you will be charged interest from the time you get that slip. Once you get an amended slip it’s considered your responsibility.”

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Canada’s best travel rewards credit cards

It’s become a common refrain among travellers trying to book flights on points: they can’t get seats because airplanes are all packed or because of blackout dates.

Two Aeroplan members recently went to CBC’s Go Public after finding it nearly impossible to use their points to book certain flights. Toronto’s Michael Finkelstein, who’s been collecting points since 1992, told the public broadcaster he tried using his miles to book a trip for himself and his wife to Europe. He started looking in February of this year; nothing was available until March 2016.

Finkelstein claimed that a supervisor told him that the company has grown so much that it can't get the space allocation from airlines, thereby finding itself unable to meet customer demand.

Ian Gill from Huntingdon, Que., meanwhile, complained that he couldn’t find business class seats 11 months in advance and that the Aeroplan fees associated with an Air Canada flight  were exorbitant.

With more than 80 travel reward credit cards available to Canadians, picking one—never mind the “best” one—can be a daunting task. The trick to getting the most bang for your rewards-card buck is to pore over the fine print before you even sign up, says Patrick Sojka, the founder of Rewards Canada.

“You need to find what fits with your travel patterns: where you want to travel, how often you travel, and how you spend your points,” Sojka says. “It’s all about what works best for you.

“No-fee credit cards don’t reward you very much, but there are some people who are just absolutely against paying an annual fee on a credit card, or they don’t need the insurance benefits that come along with those cards, so a no-fee card works for them,” he adds.

Sojka says while there are many tales like those of the two Aeroplan members who went to Go Public, he hears positive accounts from travellers far more often. He has certainly figured out how to work the system himself. Last summer, he flew out two family members from Regina to Calgary on short notice; he starting looking at flights available through his Aeroplan program at11 in the morning; the two were a plane later that same day. There were some taxes to pay, but had those seats been booked directly with the Air Canada, they would have cost close to $900 each.  

He booked a more recent family to San Diego with his Diners Club MasterCard for a cost of about $800. Had he booked the four seats directly with West Jet, it would have cost $2,500.

Sojka recommends having an American Express, a Visa, and a MasterCard, one as your main card with the other two simply on hand;  having all three types means you’ll have access to deals no matter what.

“There are promotions on things like airlines or hotels specific to a credit card brand,” he says “I just received a mailer from Amex, where you get a $100 credit if spend $500 at Marriott hotels….Visa used to run promos of 10 percent off Air Canada flights. I’m not saying drop Aeroplan or Air Miles because you’re going to be shopping anyways. But maybe you’ll end up booking a flight via BMO rewards then use your Air Miles for Disneyland tickets.

“Aeroplan really shines if you travel a lot,” he says.  “If you’re someone who spends $10,000 on your credit card or you’re flying three or four times a month, those programs make a lot of sense. If you only travel once a year, there may be a lot more effective options. A lot of the credit card proprietary programs—BMO, TD, Amex—are amazing for those once-a-year travellers. You don’t have to reach the full amount of points before you redeem to buy travel; you’re redeeming points against the charge, and all the restrictions with frequent flyer program aren’t there.”

Rewards Canada recently released its 2015 ranking of the best credit cards in Canada across several categories (including no-fee cards and those with an annual charge). The top 5 travel rewards credit cards with an annual fee are:

BMO World Elite MasterCard

This one takes the crown for offering two percent return on all purchases that can be used towards any travel that is booked through BMO Rewards and a 30,000 point sign-up bonus that is worth $300 of travel, among other perks.

Capital One® Aspire Travel™ World Elite MasterCard

You get two reward miles for every $1 and 10,000 bonus reward miles with your first purchase, a value of up to $100.

Scotiabank Gold American Express Card

Card holders earn four points for every dollar spent on gas stations, grocery stores, dining and entertainment (up to $50,000) and can redeem points for any travel bookings from any travel provider

TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card

There’s a 1.5 per cent return on all purchases plus a 4.5 per cent return on travel booked via Expedia for TD Rewards that can be used toward any travel via any booking method. Card holders can start redeeming at 10,000 points or about $3,333 in spending.

CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Card

This one has bonuses of 1.5 points on eligible spending at gas, grocery and drug Stores plus additional bonuses at CIBC bonus reward partners as well as out of province medical coverage.

Meanwhile, Credit cards.ca has its own ranking of the best airline credit cards.

The top five are:

Capital One Aspire Travel Platinum MasterCard

This is the same one that appears on the Rewards Canada list.

Capital One Aspire Travel World Elite MasterCard

You get two reward miles for every $1 on all purchases and a bonus of 10,000 reward miles with your first purchase, a value up to $100.

Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Card

You earn 30,000 bonus points after your first purchase, equivalent to four free nights certain hotels, plus five points per $1 spent at participating Marriott locations.

CIBC Aventura Infinite Visa Card

Here’s another card that made it onto both lists.

American Express Air Miles Credit Card

The first time you use the card, you get a bonus of 500 Air Miles; from there its one reward mile for every $15 in card purchases at Air Miles sponsors and one reward mile for every $20 in purchases elsewhere.

Are there any cards to steer clear of? Rewards Canada’s Sojka is hesitant to describe any of them as “bad”, but he says one that doesn’t make much sense for him is the RBC Shoppers Optimum MasterCard.

“A lot of people like it because they like to shop at Shoppers and can redeem points there,” Sojka says. “Outside of shopping at Shoppers, you get half percent [cash] back. But you could get a cash-back card that gives you one per cent back, and you’re earning double.

“Some people need to look into things a little more see what they’re actually getting in return,” he adds. “For example, prices on everyday goods may well be more expensive at Shoppers than elsewhere, in which case those points aren’t doing you a whole lot of good. If you’re going to Safeway or Sobeys’ to earn Air Miles but you have a Loblaw’s or Superstore next to you, you may be saving more money by shopping there than by what you earn in those rewards.”

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Mental health dilemma: What employees need to disclose

If you have a health condition—whether it’s physical or mental—are you obligated to tell your boss? And is your employer ever required to know about your medical issues?

The questions raise all sorts of issues, touching on everything from employment law to human rights. And while the answers are not black-and-white, there are some generalities when it comes to the need to divulge illness or disability in the workplace.

For starters, your medical information is private.

“The privacy of someone’s medical records is deeply enshrined in all of our legal obligations,” says Fred Wynne, a lawyer at Vancouver’s Hamilton Howell Bain and Gould Employment Lawyers. “Disclosure has got to come from the employee; it’s got to be authorized.”

However, Wynne says that employees often choose to divulge their medical status to their employer because they’re aware that there are certain benefits from doing so, such as protection from discrimination under human rights laws.

“In my experience, most employees will not hide their illness; in fact, they’re usually willing to put it out there because there are protections in place, such the Human Rights code in B.C.,” he says. (Provincial and territorial human rights laws vary.) “Once an employer becomes aware that an employee has a medical condition, it’s potentially a disability under Human Rights legislation.”

The B.C. Human Rights Code, for example, makes it illegal for employers to fire, lay off, or demote a person because of a disability, unless he can no longer perform the essential parts of the job. A disability can be physical or mental, visible or invisible, temporary or permanent. Examples include mental illnesses, developmental delays, learning disabilities, drug or alcohol addiction, HIV/AIDS, and sensory impairments (such as blindness).

Wynne notes, however, that some jobs and industries have stricter standards and more onerous reporting conditions related to employees’ health than others; air-traffic controllers, for instance, must be medically fit for work and go through regular exams to verify so.

Paul McLean, employment lawyer at Vancouver’s Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark LLP, notes that, broadly speaking, employees have an obligation to disclose a medical condition to their employer “if it has the ability to impair or impact their employment”.

There are also times when employers have a right or a responsibility to inquire about an employee’s health-whether the condition is a physical or mental illnesses.

“A common question from employers is ‘What and when can we know?,” McLean says. “In the context of mental-health issues, if the employee exhibits odd or disturbing behaviour, such as outbursts in the workplace, or if there’s an ongoing history of absenteeism or performance concerns which aren't readily explained by the employee, then an employer has a right and an obligation to ask for medical information.”

Although stigma still exists, more and more workplaces have programs—and a philosophy—in place to help workers address mental illness.

“There’s been much more sensitivity to it in last five to 10 years from both a human rights perspective and a workplace safety perspective,” McLean says.

Vancouver lawyer Gabriel Somjen, senior counsel with Borden Ladner Gervais’s labour and employment group, says that workers and employers alike are responsible for a safe workplace.

“Information about an employee’s health, generally speaking, is private and not the employer’s concern, but when a health condition affects their ability to work properly or safely, then it is the employer’s concern,” he says.

“There is a dual obligation under legislation, whether federal or provincial, for employers to make sure that the workplace is safe, and that means safe for that employee and also for other employees,” Somjen says. “So if there’s a health issue that would restrict an employee from working safely, then there is an obligation for the employer to deal with that issue and also an obligation for the employee to not work in a manner or in a situation that’s unsafe.”

Let’s say someone who drives a bus or a train needs to take medication that makes them drowsy, for example. That person needs to tell his employer, who in turn needs to accommodate him, possibly with modified duties or other alternatives. Somjen notes too that many employers provide health-care plans, employee-assistance programs, and other benefits that support workers when they’re not able to work for a legitimate reason.  

“The employer may need to reassign the employee or put them on sick leave, but it’s not appropriate for an employee who is knowingly incapacitated to just continue working without advising their employer and without giving the employer an opportunity to deal with it,” he says. “To be clear, the employee doesn’t get fired for that; there has to be some kind of accommodation for them.”

Somjen notes, however, that it’s not uncommon for people to feel nervous or scared about telling their employer something is wrong. That’s why he suggests employers have comprehensive, proactive policies in place that recognize and address situations where employees’ health may be affecting their ability to work safely.

“There’s an obvious issue with employees that are afraid because they think they might lose their job or might not be able to do the type of work they want [if they disclose health conditions],” he says. “Sometimes employees are afraid to disclose because they’re afraid of the consequences, especially with mental illness. Mental illness is a difficult one, because it tends to have some stigma attached to it.

“There have been lots of attempts to remove or reduce stigma but the fact is people often perceive mental illness as different from physical illness,” he adds. “If you’re dealing with addictions and mental illness, which often go together, those can be hard things for employees to talk about. The real  key here is to have good policies where an employer makes it not only mandatory for an employee to disclose a type of disability that’s going to make them unsafe at work but to also provide an environment where the employee feels safe in doing that. Those two things go hand in hand.”