Premier Ball announces presumptive PTSD coverage for all workers covered by WorkplaceNL
On December 4th, Premier Dwight Ball, Minister Sherry Gambin-Walsh and WorkplaceNL CEO Dennis Hogan announced a bill to amend the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Act to include presumptive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) coverage for all workers, effective July 1, 2019. The legislation will presume that PTSD was the result of a workplace event(s) if  [...]
Weed in the Workplace
The Employers’ Council was in the media yesterday reminding people that just because marijuana is now legal, that doesn’t mean it is okay to be impaired at work. On May 8th, 2018 the Employers’ Council held a workshop on the legalization of marijuana at Glendenning Golf Course in St. John’s. The major takeaway was that impairment from  [...]
Employer’s Council addresses inaccuracies in NAPE’s campaign for presumptive workplace mental health legislation
On Monday, October 15th the Employers’ Council sent a letter to all MHAs in the province, raising concern with inaccuracies and misleading information presented in the ongoing NAPE advertising campaign, “Let’s Get It Right”, calling for presumptive “workplace mental health legislation”. Workplace mental health is exceptionally important to employers in this province. The Employers’ Council supported improvements that were  [...]
Employers’ Council Calls for Changes to WorkplaceNL PRIME Program
On September 21st, 2018 the Board of Directors approved the Employers’ Council’s submission to the Prevention and Return-to-Work Insurance Management for Employers’/Employees (PRIME) program review, currently being done by WorkplaceNL. Read the submission here. While the PRIME program has value, through consultation with members it has become clear that the current PRIME model is not  [...]
Employers’ Council urging Premier and opposition leader to remain impartial in private labour disputes
The Employers’ Council is exceptionally concerned about comments Premier Dwight Ball and PC leader Ches Crosbie have made surrounding potential government intervention in an ongoing labour dispute between Unifor and DJ Composites. Government and the opposition appear to be conceding to Unifor’s demands that the House of Assembly be opened to pass legislation surrounding binding arbitration  [...]
Employers’ Council presents to provincial tax Review Committee: Emphasizes urgent need to make taxes competitive
This week, the Employers’ Council presented to the provincial Tax Review Committee, a five person committee appointed by government. The committee will make recommendations for reforms to the province’s tax system, to be considered prior to Budget 2019-20. Our presentation emphasized the urgent need to reduce the total tax burden on both citizens and businesses,  [...]
WorkplaceNL significantly over-funded: Employers’ Council calls announcement of 131% funded position insulting to employers
On Friday the Employers’ Council was in the media reacting to an announcement by WorkplaceNL that their funded position has reached 131%, calling it “insulting to employers.” The Employers’ Council is calling on the Board of Directors of WorkplaceNL to drop assessment rates in 2019 to bring the funded position to 110%, in keeping with the funding target  [...]
Moody’s releases report today echoing Employers’ Council analysis that government plan is risky
In a report released today Moody’s substantiated the Employers’ Council’s analysis as risky. “The province’s forecast to balance the books by 2022/23 carries risks, and will be conditional on improving economic conditions and increasing oil prices, and on the government’s ability to consistently adhere to its expenditure controls. The province expects that the bulk of  [...]
“Stay the course budget” brings modest tax relief to business, but does little to improve fiscal situation
Finance Minster Tom Osborne brought down his first provincial budget on Tuesday. Budget brings modest tax relief Removal of the payroll tax has been a longtime advocacy issue for the Employers’ Council. The Budget included an announcement that the threshold of the provincial payroll tax will be increased from $1.2 M to $1.3 M effective  [...]
Minimum Wage now linked to CPI as recommended by Employers’ Council
On February 20th government also announced that the minimum wage in Newfoundland & Labrador will now be tied to the national Consumer Price Index (CPI). Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, Al Hawkins, announced that minimum wage would be increased by 15 cents to $11.15 on April 1st, 2018. All future increases will be  [...]