Question: We are a small family-owned company in central. We sell hardware stuff. We only have ten employees, three have been with the company for thirty years, and four, some of them our best workers, are over sixty-five, but still able to work and want to work. Except one. She has recently decided that she […]
It happens that due to ill health or ill fortune, an employee may be on sick leave for a longer than usual time. First they exhaust the normal paid sick leave provisions which are usually in the range of two working weeks per annum. Then, if it is a serious illness, they apply for an […]
Question: I work for a fairly new company, and due to the recent drop in business, my company has been taking on “Freelancers” or “Contract Workers” when there is a project to handle or when there is (what turns out to be a temporary) upsurge in business, instead of taking on permanent staff that we […]
Question: What is the position regarding retirement during a fixed-term contract? Answer: I am not sure that I understand what you mean by “retirement during a fixed-term contract”. If there is a fixed-term to an employment contract, there is no retirement other than the termination of the contract when it comes to an end. […]
Question: My company has just been through the Recognition process, and for the first time we are about to negotiate a collective agreement. The Union has sent us proposals. I’ve never done this before. What do I watch out for? Answer: To begin with, I strongly advise that you get an experienced professional to […]
An entrepreneur wrote in to ask about legal ways to deal with employee latecoming and absenteeism in order to suspend or dismiss. PMSL’s Response: To begin, we do not ever set out to suspend or dismiss employees guilty of either. What we advise is that you set out to change their behaviour first. And […]
Dear PMSL: When referring to the Principles of Natural Justice and the Principles of Good Industrial Relations, the term “reasonable” is often used. But no one defines it. What is “reasonableness”? PMSL’s Response: This seemingly vague concept has its origins in the English Legal System and is often explained by using the circular definition: “reasonableness is what is […]
Dear PMSL Employer’s question: We have an employee who has a bad attitude and always has an excuse as to why something assigned to him isn’t done, or why he is nowhere to be found when he is needed. This has been going on for the past 2 to 3 years and we are fed […]
Dear Consultant Since business has dropped over the last year, my organization has to change our hours of work and make some necessary shift changes – is there an accepted industry standard/ procedure and timeframe for notification of the workers? Response: Yes, there is. If you are in a unionized environment, notice for changes […]
Client Query: I understand that in the USA, an employee who is hired “at will” can be dismissed whenever the employer wishes to do so if the term “at will’ appears in the employment contract. Can the ‘at will’ concept apply in Trinidad & Tobago? Consultant’s Response: No. The situation with employment contracts in Trinidad […]
