The number of workplace complaints is on the rise and the Jasper Adult Learning Centre is concerned it could hurt Jasper’s ability to recruit and retain employees.
According to Ginette Marcoux, the executive director of the organization, she has dealt with about a dozen labour standard inquires this summer–more than triple the number of inquires than last summer.
“My biggest concern when I hear these people talking and I think about the recruitment and retention issues we already have in this community, if Jasper is developing a reputation for itself that it’s not a good place to come and work that has a ripple affect right across the community,” said Marcoux.
“We have a lot of really good employers here, but the few that are breaking labour standard laws and human rights laws are developing a reputation for the community and it only takes four or five bad employers to make everyone look bad.”
She said the most common complaints she’s heard about range from employers not giving their employees 24 hours notice after changing the schedule, to not paying staff for a minimum of three hours when they’re scheduled for a shift but are sent home.
“We’ve seen people get fired because there was a schedule change and they didn’t happen to check the schedule the day before,” said Marcoux.
She’s also heard from employees who have had deductions taken from their pay cheque without ever having signed a legal form.
Other complaints include employees not getting paid overtime.
According to Marcoux, in one instance an employee was working in two different departments within the same hotel, but wasn’t paid overtime because the hotel paid that person as if they were two separate employees.
“It’s illegal,” said Marcoux. “If you are working for one business and five departments all those hours combined is what you need to consider as far as overtime pay.”
She said some of the issues stem from the fact that there are a lot of young people put into managerial positions that lack leadership skills.
“People are being promoted into supervisory positions often with no leadership skills and that’s where training actually becomes really important,” said Marcoux.
“If you’re having a lot of turnover you might want to be looking at who’s managing your people.”
She stressed that the Adult Learning Centre does not get directly involved with complaints. Instead the organization points people in the right direct and helps them navigate the various agencies and steps that are involved to file a formal complaint.
“I will often be the first point of entry as far as just listening to what’s going on and then just giving them recommendations on what I think they should do,” said Marcoux, adding people who want to file a formal complaint need to be committed to the process.
“We can talk about it, but if we don’t do anything about it nothing changes.”
Without directly naming any employers she said it’s not a coincidence that certain businesses that struggle to find employees are also the same businesses that she hears employees complaining about.
“Bad reputations spread like wildfire,” said Marcoux.
While there are some businesses that are taking advantage of their employees, for the most part she said she thinks it’s a lack of education by both the employer and the employee.
“Sometimes I think its lack of education,” said Marcoux. “Information on labour standards and workers right is so important.”
She also emphasized that employees have responsibilities as well.
“It’s not just the employers, employees also have to be responsible and respectful and give notice when it’s appropriate,” said Marcoux.
“It’s a two-way street, there has to be that give and take.”
Anyone who feels that their rights may be in violation or infringed upon is encouraged to visit the Jasper Adult Learning Centre at 613 Patricia St. or call 780-852-4418.
“I want Jasper to be one of the best places to come and work in Canada. That’s what we should aspire to, not what’s going on right now, which is a shame.”
Paul Clarke
[email protected]
