Navigating the Employee-Employer Relationship During COVID-19
Kelly VanBuskirk joins our discussion on employees, employers, government and the public working together to make it through the COVID-19 Crisis
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In This Episode
Today we have one of our favourite and frequent guests join us, Kelly VanBuskirk to have an honest discussion about some of the challenges facing both employees and employers during COVID-19. Greg, Dave and Kelly drill in on how while businesses need to stay compliant with government regulations, consumers can help by having a little bit of grace and understanding.
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
Episode Breakdown
First 10 Minutes
We hear about Dave’s emergency room struggles (he’s okay) before he autotunes on us, but not to worry Greg and Kelly carry on the conversation talking about how the COVID-19 crisis is affecting employers and employees. Kelly explains how he is seeing this affecting some of his clients. They discuss how the stress on leadership can trickle down on to employees, but how some government measures have helped to relieve stress. The group talks about businesses that have to stay open and the issues that can create for employers or employees.
10 Minutes – 20 Minutes
Dave rejoins the group and questions Kelly on how businesses are interrupting the rules that are being used during the state of emergency. Kelly shares advice on following the government guidelines. Dave questions Kelly about his opinion on perceptions of non-compliance of state of emergency orders and the reaction of the public towards businesses or individuals. Kelly explains the legal implications of making comments about people’s behaviour without knowing all the facts.
20 Minutes – 30 Minutes
Kelly talks about some of the rights of employees, the requirement of keeping information as up to date as possible. Greg makes a point around the need to steer clear of blame in this situation. Kelly explains how the legal profession has been impacted, but also the experiences they are learning to use.
Kelly VanBuskirk
Lawyer, Labour & Employment, Civil Litigation, Administrative Law, Business Immigration
Since his admission to the New Brunswick Bar in 1993, Kelly has practiced extensively in the field of civil litigation, focusing primarily on labour, employment and human rights. He represents employers, employees, administrative tribunals and unions, and also serves as an arbitrator and mediator.
He joined the partnership team at Lawson Creamer in 1996 after building a successful labour & employment practice in Fredericton.
Kelly frequently teaches law courses and seminars, and has written books, articles and other materials related to the law.
As an adjunct professor at UNB’s Faculty of Business, Kelly has taught undergraduate and MBA courses. He also teaches Trial Practice at UNB’s Faculty of Law and Labour & Employment Law in the Law Society of New Brunswick’s Bar Admission Course.
His articles have been published in the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal, the Canadian Mediation and Arbitration Journal, the Canadian Bar Review, the International Review of Human Rights Law, the Solicitor’s Journal, Workplace Today magazine and other publications.
Kelly was also a regular columnist on CBC’s Business Network, a nationally broadcasted radio program and has been frequently requested to provide legal commentary to The Globe & Mail, CTV News, CBC News and other media.
Kelly is currently Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese of Fredericton and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation. He coaches hockey and rugby, has served as the President of Hockey New Brunswick’s award-winning elite hockey program in Southern New Brunswick and is currently the President of the Saint John Major Midget AAA Vito’s hockey program. Kelly is a member of St. Mary’s Band, New Brunswick’s oldest community band, and he plays in several other music groups, as well.
Kelly enjoys time with his wife Cynthia, their two sons and the family’s crazy bull terrier. He is actively involved in the Anglican Church, coaches hockey, maintains an interest in his preferred sport of rugby and plays the trombone in several bands.
In addition to Why Employees Sue: Rethinking Approaches to the Resolution of Employment Conflicts, he has also written How to Buy a Great House, a book that addresses common house defects that regularly lead to costly and unnecessary lawsuits and has edited How to Live a Great Life, a collection of essays published in support of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation.
About Lawson Creamer
At Lawson Creamer, our clients benefit from exceptional relationship-based service and depth of experience in business law, labour and employment, civil litigation, administrative law, estates and trusts, real property and business immigration.
We’ve been told we punch above our weight.
Maybe that’s because we are dedicated to providing our clients with strategic solutions tailored to their specific scenario, handled personally and over the long term by our small team of highly experienced professionals. Or maybe it’s because we still adhere to the values of our founder, Gerald B. Lawson, whose high standards for the practice of law were driven by integrity, honesty and hard work.