OIT OIT Workplace Relations and Labor Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of a collective agreement in an Ontario unionized industrial workplace?
- To set out the terms and conditions of employment negotiated between the union and employer (Correct answer)
- To list all safety regulations from the government
- To document individual performance reviews
- To outline the company's financial statements for workers
Correct answer: To set out the terms and conditions of employment negotiated between the union and employer
A collective agreement is a legally binding contract between the union and the employer that governs wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions for unionized employees.
Question 2: Under Ontario's Human Rights Code, which of the following is a protected ground in the workplace?
- Disability (Correct answer)
- Political party affiliation
- Educational level attained
- Years of work experience
Correct answer: Disability
Disability is one of the protected grounds under Ontario's Human Rights Code, prohibiting discrimination in employment based on physical or mental disability.
Question 3: What does 'duty to accommodate' mean for an Ontario employer?
- The employer must make reasonable adjustments to allow an employee with a protected need to perform their job (Correct answer)
- The employer must provide free housing for out-of-town workers
- The employer must give overtime to all employees equally
- The employer must accommodate any scheduling request
Correct answer: The employer must make reasonable adjustments to allow an employee with a protected need to perform their job
Duty to accommodate requires employers to make reasonable adjustments (such as modified duties or schedules) for employees with disabilities or other protected needs, up to the point of undue hardship.
Question 4: In Ontario labor relations, what is the 'grievance procedure' in a unionized workplace?
- A formal process for resolving disputes about the application or violation of the collective agreement (Correct answer)
- A complaint system for reporting workplace injuries to WSIB
- A process for negotiating a new collective agreement
- A method for employees to request a raise outside of bargaining
Correct answer: A formal process for resolving disputes about the application or violation of the collective agreement
The grievance procedure is the step-by-step process outlined in the collective agreement through which union members can challenge perceived violations of their contractual rights.
Question 5: What is the maximum number of hours per week an Ontario worker can be required to work under the standard ESA rules (without an excess hours agreement)?
- 48 hours (Correct answer)
- 40 hours
- 44 hours
- 60 hours
Correct answer: 48 hours
Under the ESA, an employer cannot require a worker to work more than 48 hours in a work week without a written excess hours agreement.
Question 6: Under Ontario's Workplace Harassment provisions, which of the following is an example of workplace harassment?
- A supervisor repeatedly making demeaning comments about a worker's competence (Correct answer)
- A one-time minor disagreement between coworkers
- A formal performance improvement plan issued by HR
- Assigning additional tasks during a busy period
Correct answer: A supervisor repeatedly making demeaning comments about a worker's competence
Workplace harassment is defined as a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome, such as repeated demeaning comments.
OIT OIT Workplace Relations and Labor Standards 2
What is the purpose of a collective agreement in an Ontario unionized industrial workplace?