Work refusals in Hamilton due to COVID-19

Workplaces have had to undergo many changes in order to maintain health and safety standards for employees during the pandemic. While some businesses have properly implemented new regulations, others have struggled. These failures have led to work refusals and complaints to the Ministry of Labour by employees.

Chantel Goldsmith, Toronto employment lawyer and partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP spoke with the Hamilton Spectator on ongoing work refusals as well as employee rights.

“Workplaces are getting safer,” Goldsmith explains, however that’s just part of the ongoing challenges. “They’re getting their guidance from the public health authorities. At the beginning of the pandemic, not all of those were happening as much,” said Goldsmith. “It wasn’t as prevalent to have most people working from home, sanitiser at every store or (screening) questions at grocery stores. All of those have been huge factors.”