Do You Have Employees? You Need a Remote Work Policy
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a fundamental shift in how we work. Previously, most employers permitted employees to work remotely on only an exceptional basis. Many managers alleged that their employees would not work as hard while away from the office; they would be distracted by household responsibilities; they would not be responsive to… Read more »
Punished for speaking up about working conditions? COVID-19 and Reprisal Law
Earlier this year, a successful reprisal case made headlines after a migrant farm worker was fired for speaking up about COVID-19 safety precautions in the workplace. Gabriel Flores was terminated after he raised concerns about poor living and working conditions at the Ontario farm at which he works, where 199 of his fellow workers had tested… Read more »
Ray Murray on CTV News at Noon
Erin Lepine on CTV News at Noon
Jill Lewis on CTV Morning Live
How the Infections Disease Emergency Leave (“IDEL”) may leave vulnerable Employees behind
On September 3, 2020, the province unassumingly extended the IDEL, which was supposed to end on September 4, 2020. Although the province framed the purpose of the leave as protecting employees, it has had the opposite effect. Recap In May 2020, the provincial government changed certain Employment Standards Act (“ESA”) rules to “protect” employees through… Read more »
Expanding our Employment Law Helpline
On March 25th, we launched our free COVID-19 Employment Law helpline. Since then, we have helped hundreds of people whose employment situations were affected by COVID-19 navigate their options and understand their rights. Today, we are expanding our helpline to provide free assistance to employees in Ontario related to their human rights in employment. Nelligan… Read more »
Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies Law: Bonuses During Notice Period Must Be Paid, and Employers Should Not Act Dishonestly
Authors: Christopher Rootham and Adrienne Fanjoy In Matthews v Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd., the Supreme Court of Canada has clarified the rules around bonus payments or other incentive payments that become payable during the notice period after an employee is dismissed. The Supreme Court also made it clear that employers should not act dishonestly and… Read more »
12 Questions to Consider Before Terminating an Employee for Absenteeism or Lateness
It should be unsurprising for an employee to learn that their employment may be in jeopardy if they are chronically absent or late for work. In the time of COVID-19, some employees are facing challenges working full time because of childcare obligations and other unexpected commitments. In certain circumstances, issues with attendance and lateness may… Read more »
Layoffs turning into terminations on September 4? Not necessarily. Important change to the layoff period:
COVID-19 hit the province in and around March 16, 2020. As a result, many businesses were forced to temporarily layoff their employees. typically, an employer can only layoff and employee if it is directly permitted in your employment contract or implied as part of industry standards. As such, some employees started treating these layoffs as… Read more »