New legal standards for psychological safety in workplaces, from Roper Greyell's Alissa Demerse
This article was produced in partnership with Roper Greyell
In British Columbia in particular, expectations around psychological health and safety at work are shifting—and employers are being required to do more. “WorkSafeBC wants to be the leader within Canada in this space,” says Alissa Demerse, partner at Roper Greyell LLP and practice lead for workplace safety. “We’re seeing significant evolution here—especially around employers’ obligations when it comes to prevention. What steps do you have to take to prevent psychological injury in the workplace and to ensure worker feels psychological safe at work?”
At the same time, the legal system is further defining what employees can claim when those preventative measures fall short. That includes claims related to chronic stress, traumatic events, and complex interpersonal conflict. On March 6, the B.C. Supreme Court released its decision in Pickering, a constitutional challenge to the province’s mental health provisions under the Workers Compensation Act. “That decision is of interest to a lot of people,” says Demerse—and for employers, it marks an important moment of accountability.
Demerse has been practising since Roper Greyell’s founding in 2006 and today leads the firm’s workplace safety group. Her practice operates at the intersection of labour, employment, human rights, and workers’...
By Matthew Knott and Nick Bonyhady April 19, 2025 — 5.54pm , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any tim...