What?Oh I just can't agree with that! My hubby had to take courses in employment laws/workers rights/employer's obligations for his management position and watch his every step in the process of managing employees. Many chances are given to employees except for severe offences(violence) and it is all documented with their knowledge. There are legal teams in bigger companies that counsel HR before they make any moves. Federal/provincial laws concerning dicipline, steps to getting fire, or making allowances. Or else companies get sued successfully. There are regulations about vacation and pay, and harrassment,racism laws, etc.... Much better maternity and parental leaves-even a leave to take care of sick family....
Mom and pop businesses often don't understand the laws enough and so get themselves in trouble sometimes. Or companies that are smaller in nature. Overtime pay and how its structured is laid out so you are not taken advantage of.
Don't compare us with the US. States vary in regulation and workers rights. Hubby went down to Georgia 2 years ago, and it was almost beyond belief. He said it was like stepping back 50 years. The Canadians were ordered not to speak to the workers about our rules and rights here so we didn't give them "ideas". He saw huge, overt and sickening racial prejudice. People fired for just looking the wrong way if the boss didn't like it. And people fired for asking for 1 day off in several months of straight work. He saw parents scared of being fired and so little babies, toddlers were left in cars in back parking lots overnight(winter) because they didn't have a babysitter and could not miss work- or be fired. With great fear he found out they were scared to ask him if they could take a quick break(Of course he said-they looked in wonder!). He found out it was because they had to go check on their kids. Over and over again. They could get fired for the smallest thing(needing a sickday), even asking for their first day off in months to go to a sibling's wedding! This car company actually fired so easily and wouldn't work with the people's needs, that it resulted in not being able to find a workforce. Most of the folks from all around had already been fired and that disqualified them from trying again. The Canadians were disgusted and disturbed by what they saw in Georgia and many refused to go work there(in management to get the company out of trouble). The parent company regretted building a plant there because of the workforce problems and labour laws. They had been given incentives to build there to provide employment, but because of the State's backwards employment laws/methods they could not make it work. Other states may be more progressive(we hope). BUT this is not the way it is in Canada. Canada is much more progressive then the States in many ways(rights, freedoms, health)-but we are quiet about it. It is slightly ironic to Canadians seeing the US pound their chests about the land of the free...but maybe you have to live here as their *poor cousin* neighbour to get that insight....and see the difference. Canada is way ahead of the States in many areas. But not the military might-which they like to remind us. We call it the mouse living next to the elephant syndrome.
If anything, in Canada I have seen people who should have been fired kept employed because companies fear being sued for wrongful dismissal or I have seen people sue and win lots of $$$ when really the company was right to fire them but didn't cross their T's and dot their i's when they did it. Last one I knew got $40000 last year and he brought a tv/vcr and watched it in his office instead of supervising a manufacturing dept. Hm.
Why not research our work laws? You will be pleasantly surprised.
Labour
Most of us are lawabiding. One difference is we are not a people who race to sue-unlike the attitude in the States. Many times we could but are surprised by the thought. Except for wrongful dismissal, people don't look at a situation and figure whats in in for them by suing-generally speaking (like falling on ice outside a store). We are incredulous when people are idiot enough to break the laws(and there are always those people who do it). We are more about common sense and being fair. Not making a fuss or "in it for me" attitude. Courts are sensible that way too. You don't see the silly and stupendous awards in judgments for frivolous lawsuits. It takes alot to prove pain and suffering and doesn't pay the huge bucks as in the US. We aren't perfect, but we are pretty good!