Employee - Definition Legislative Interpretations

“employee” means

(a) a person employed at or in a place of employment, or

(b) a person at or in a place of employment for any purpose in connection therewith;

Question:
What does “for any purpose in connection therewith” mean?

Answer:
A person is considered an employee when they perform work-related duties at or in a place of employment, and their employer is subject to New Brunswick’s OHS Act.

This includes individuals who are not in traditional employment relationships. These persons may be employed by the employer, another employer, be a volunteer, or be self-employed; however, they must be conducting work-related duties while at the place of employment. Examples of these types of employees are:

• Sales people
• Volunteers
• Employees of contractors (painters, welders, electricians on a construction site, etc.)
• Delivery personnel (truck drivers, couriers, etc.).

Question:
Who are not considered employees?

Answer:
Individuals who are not performing work-related duties at the place of employment, either for themselves or other employers, are not considered employees. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

• Patients at a medical clinic
• Customers in a store or a mall
• Individuals present at a place of employment for personal reasons (such as visiting friends)
• An unsolicited salesperson who has been asked to leave the premises, but remains on-site (such as a trespasser)

Question:
Are students considered employees?

Answer:
Students attending classes at an educational facility are not considered employees of the educational facility.

Students who are working or performing work-related duties outside of the classroom on placement programs (co-operative programs, apprenticeship programs, etc.) are considered employees of the placement employer and not of the educational facility. This means that the student now has rights under the OHS Act, and the placement employer is responsible for that student’s health and safety.