Terminating Employees for Criminal Charges: Does Just Cause Exist
We live in a society where our criminal justice system presumes a person innocent until proven guilty. That said, the reality is that many people criminally charged are guilty. Even where innocent, it can take months – if not years – before criminal charges are resolved, during which time it…
View the post titled Terminating Employees for Criminal Charges: Does Just Cause ExistOntario Minimum Wage Rates Increase October 1, 2016
Employers take note! The minimum wage for provincially-regulated employees in Ontario will increase again on October 1, 2016. The new rates will be: General Minimum Wage$11.40 / hourThis rate applies to most employees. Student Minimum Wage$10.70 / hourThis rate applies to students under the …
View the post titled Ontario Minimum Wage Rates Increase October 1, 2016Double Jeopardy Also Applies to Employee Discipline
I recently came across the Ontario decision of Garreton v. Complete Innovations Inc.[1] from earlier this year. While an interesting read for a number of employment reasons, it is a good reminder to employers that “double jeopardy” also applies to employee discipline. The relevant facts in t…
View the post titled Double Jeopardy Also Applies to Employee DisciplineRecent Case Highlights Importance of Severability Clauses in Employment Agreements
Most employers want simple, friendly hiring documents that are easy to understand and don’t look like they were drafted by lawyers. Trust me – I get it! To achieve this goal, employers sometimes want to remove important legal clauses from their offer letters or employment agreements. Most co…
View the post titled Recent Case Highlights Importance of Severability Clauses in Employment AgreementsTime Off to Vote for Federal Election – October 19, 2015
The Federal election is fast approaching. There are a number of ways for employees to vote, including: In person on Election Day – October 19, 2015 from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm in Ontario. In person on the advance voting days – October 9, 10, 11 and 12, 2015 from noon to 8 pm. In person...
View the post titled Time Off to Vote for Federal Election – October 19, 2015Sobering Thoughts: Hosting Social Functions with Alcohol and How to Reduce Your Liability
(This is a repost of an article originally published in 2013) The days are getting shorter and the weather cooler. Fall is clearly here. For many employers, this means that plans for the office holiday party are in the works. It also means that many employees will be consuming alcohol at an …
View the post titled Sobering Thoughts: Hosting Social Functions with Alcohol and How to Reduce Your LiabilityNew SCC Decision Finds Paid Administrative Suspensions Can Trigger Constructive Dismissals
Most employers are familiar with the most common changes to employment contracts that can trigger a constructive dismissal: changing pay, hours, demotions, duties, work location, etc. However, in the March 2015 decision of Potter v. New Brunswick Legal Aid Services Commission, the Supreme Co…
View the post titled New SCC Decision Finds Paid Administrative Suspensions Can Trigger Constructive DismissalsNew ESA Poster Requirements for Ontario Employers
The Ontario Ministry of Labour has just released its new version (6.0) of the Employment Standards Poster entitled “Employment Standards in Ontario”. Ontario employers must immediately post this new poster in each of its workplaces in a location likely to come to the attention of…
View the post titled New ESA Poster Requirements for Ontario EmployersLitigation Perils: Winning the battle, but losing the war!
Litigation is expensive, time-consuming, unpleasant and risky for everyone involved. Outcomes are hard to predict, as too are the fees and time that parties will spend either pursuing or defending a claim. Let’s not even talk about the potential reputational damage if litigation becomes publ…
View the post titled Litigation Perils: Winning the battle, but losing the war!New Human Rights Commission Policy on Mental Health and Addiction
I recently sat in on a presentation by a large benefits administrator, which focused on the top 5 categories of medical conditions resulting in disability claims. For both short and long term absences, at or near the top of that list are mental health issues. Mental health issues are often t…
View the post titled New Human Rights Commission Policy on Mental Health and AddictionReceive Blog Posts
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