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Dealing with domestic violence in the workplace
Statistics Canada reports that “in 2015, there were over 86,000 victims of violence committed by a spouse, parent, child, sibling or other family member in Canada”, just under half were perpetrated by...
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Denial of coverage for medical marijuana under employee benefit plan found to...
In 2010, Mr. Skinner was involved in a motor vehicle accident while working, and subsequently developed a physical and mental disability. After exhausting conventional drug options to treat his...
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Proposal to legalize marijuana: What does this mean for employers?
“Marijuana use may become legal, and employers may need to review and amend their workplace policies and procedures to reflect this (changing the status of cannabis from illegal to legal) – but...
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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
Articles may require log in credentials to HRinfodesk. MOL blitz schedule for 2017–18 On March 31, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Labour released its employment standards and health and safety blitz...
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Can an employer terminate an employee for just cause if they were charged...
The laying of a criminal charge alone does not constitute just cause (i.e. dismissal without notice) in every instance. In order to summarily dismiss an employee for being charged with a criminal...
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Private member’s Bill seeks union-favourable amendments, without waiting for...
Although the final report from The Changing Workplaces Review is not expected until later this year, the Ontario New Democratic Party (“NDP”) introduced a private member bill on April 4, 2017 aiming,...
View ArticleYou can fire someone without saying so, but even “I quit” may not be a...
We all know that most Judges will try to protect employees when they can, as the perception is that employers have greater resources. In recent times, my firm has written about the dangers of accepting...
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Are remote employees the answer?
“But a possible answer to some of the talent acquisition challenges being faced by businesses is the hiring of remote employees. The hiring of employees who may not physically reside in the same...
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What to do when the MOL comes calling
I often get calls from employers who are the subject of a Ministry of Labour (“MOL”) inspection. Sometimes the employer is a target of one of the MOL’s pro-active enforcement blitzes. For information...
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Une arbitre fédérale rejette un grief fondé sur la situation de famille
Une récente décision arbitrale indique que l’obligation d’accommoder les besoins d’un employé pour cause de situation de famille en vertu de la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne, comme l’a...
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Federal adjudicator dismisses family status grievance
A recent adjudication decision suggests that the duty to accommodate an employee’s family status needs under the Canadian Human Rights Act, as recognized by the Federal Court of Appeal in Johnstone, is...
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Dealing with a Claim: Getting sued by an ex-employee
What is an employer to do when served with a Statement of Claim? Here are the most common questions we get: Is a response mandatory or can we ignore the claim? How do we get rid of this ridiculous...
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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
Articles may require log in credentials to HRinfodesk. One-quarter of employers compliant with ESA after latest repeat violators from 2016 blitz After conducting inspections of 104 Ontario employers...
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Employer unsuccessful in voiding unfavourable termination clause
A recent decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal, Roberts v. Zoomermedia Limited, dealt with the unusual situation of a defendant employer arguing that its own contractual termination provision was...
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Will distracted driving kill your employees?
“Operating a motor vehicle for work is more than driving a truck, cab or ambulance. Anyone driving from home to a location different from their usual workplace, or travelling for work, is usually “in...
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The end of accommodation? Frustration of the employment contract as a last...
One of the goals of legislation such as the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”) and the Human Rights Code (the “Code”) is to promote accessibility and accommodation in various...
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Is it work-related? Novel workers’ compensation decisions deal with...
It may seem fairly obvious when a worker breaks her leg “in the course of employment”. However, injuries and illnesses related to bullying and harassment have drawn significant attention in recent...
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Three popular articles this week on HRinfodesk
Articles may require log in credentials to HRinfodesk. Employment law changes coming: $15 minimum wage and more The Ontario Ministry of Labour is currently reviewing recommendations under Ontario’s...
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Ontario considers big changes to Employment Standards Act and Labour...
For the first time in over 20 years, the Province of Ontario has commissioned an independent report to review both the Employment Standards Act and the Labour Relations Act. The CBC reported on May 12,...
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Victoria Day, public (statutory) holiday in Canada
In Canada, Monday, May 22, 2017 is recognized as a public (statutory) holiday known as Victoria Day, except in the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince...
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