After the pandemic: Protecting the workers of the future

“Virtually all of the laws that we use to regulate work today were designed in the 20th century to address 20th-century problems,” explains York University law professor Dr. David Doorey in this month’s podcast.

Doorey explains that most legislative standards designed to protect vulnerable employees — minimum employment standards, health and safety laws, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and collective bargaining legislation — were introduced by governments responding, in their day, to struggles faced by mostly male workers in large industrial workplaces.

But are those struggles still reflective of the labour market concerns faced by workers today?

That’s the starting point for a fascinating discussion about what the future holds for employment and labour law. We discuss a range of issues, from the impact of the gig economy on workers’ rights, legislative efforts to protect autonomous workers, how the courts have fared in shaping our laws in Canada, and the challenges ahead for organized labour. Doorey also shares his thoughts on how a Joe Biden presidency in the U.S. might affect workers in Canada.

For those interested in Doorey's work, his book The Law of Work is a leading law text used in universities and colleges across Canada. And his blog, Canadian Law of Work Forum, which he started in 2008, is widely read among those following developments in employment and labour law. You can also follow him on Twitter @TheLawofWork.

Listen to the podcast.