Source: midlandtoday.ca
‘Are we going to see a complete shift to remote working opportunities, or is it going to be too much of a hassle?’ asks lawyer
The pandemic saw a huge movement of people shifting their work spaces from downtown office buildings to home-based offices, creating great benefits to employees and employers alike.
The latest set of restrictions sent many people who had started to return to the office back to their home work spaces.
And although there are up sides to pandemic-inspired home offices, there are also risks.
The working-from-home trend — be it temporary or permanent — raises questions about who should be responsible for some of the issues likely to surface.
Last month, a Quebec provincial labour tribunal decided that an employee who was injured falling on stairs in her house suffered a workplace injury, becoming eligible for worker’s compensation.
While that decision is based on legislation in Quebec and has no bearing in Ontario, Barrie lawyer Josh Valler says it does raise some interesting questions.
The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) specifically states its rules don’t apply in a private residence. But the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act does provide for some injuries in the home.
That leaves room for some ambiguity about remote work situations, Valler says.