FAQs

What Is Pay Equity?
 

Pay equity is equal pay for work of equal or comparable value. The Pay Equity Act was introduced by the provincial government to narrow the portion of any wage gap that may exist between women's and men's wages that is due to undervaluing the work traditionally done by women.
 

The law requires that the value of jobs usually done by women be compared to the value of jobs usually done by men. Female jobs that are found to be of equal or comparable value to male jobs must be paid at least the same.

 

What is ergonomics?

Egonomics is the science of fitting the job to the worker.

Ergonomics aims to design work stations, work processes, equipment, and tools to fit workers of different sizes, shapes and limits. Designing work stations to suit workers decreases the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

The main ergonomic risk factors in the office are:

· Repetition — tasks or body movements carried out over and over again.

· Awkward postures — body positions that contort your bones and muscles, such as twisting your neck to view your monitor.

· Static forces — maintaining a position for a long period of time, such as viewing the monitor with a bent neck.

The Office Ergonomics Handbook will help you create an ergonomically appropriate work station and make other improvements in your work environment.

Workers rights and ergonomics

The Occupational Health and Safety Act does not directly address ergonomic issues. It does give you three basic rights:

· The right to know about workplace health and safety hazards.

· The right to participate in making recommendations about health and safety.

· The right to refuse work if you have reason to believe it endangers your health and safety.

Use your rights

You can use your three rights under the Act to improve the ergonomics of your workplaces.

· Use the handbook as a guide

· Adjust chairs and other equipment as best you can to create an ergonomically appropriate work station

· Report complaints about ergonomics to your supervisors

Joint Health and Safety Committees, or Health and Safety representatives should make recommendations to the employer on improving workplace ergonomics.

Your Collective Agreement may address ergonomics. Collective agreements often contain language allowing a VDT user a short break after steady computer use, or employer-paid eye exams. Gaining such provisions in your Collective Agreement should be part of your ongoing bargaining strategy.