February 15, 2018 A record breaking monetary award in the Ontario decision of Galea v. Wal-Mart Canada Corp. proves that employers need to follow their employment agreements with employees, or else they may find themselves paying a hefty price. Ms. Galea was hired by Wal-Mart Canada Corp. (the “Company” or “Wal-Mart”) in 2002 as District […]
February 1, 2018 A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision confirms that a claim of vicarious liability against a company by a third party is not necessarily a one-way ticket to compensation. In Ivic v. Lakovic (2107 ONCA 446), a taxi driver was accused of sexually assaulting a passenger in his car. The alleged victim […]
January 18, 2018 In the Berger v. Benson Group Inc. decision, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice highlighted to employers the importance of making appropriate inquiries and giving adequate consideration to available options to accommodate disabled employees. The employee worked as a shipper/receiver and counterperson at one of the employer’s auto parts stores for fifteen […]
January 4th, 2017 Late in 2017, the government of Alberta introduced Bill 30: An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans (“Bill”) with the goal of modernizing health and safety legislation in the province and bringing it in line with other provinces across Canada. The Bill received Royal Assent on December 15, […]
December 14, 2017 It appears that the federal government isn’t done with proposing changes to the Canada Labour Code (“Code”). On October 27, 2017, the Minister of Finance introduced Bill C-63, Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 2, which makes further, significant amendments to Part III of the Code (Standard Hours, Wages, Amendments, Vacations and Holidays). […]
November 30, 2017 Just a few months ago in August we informed you that Royal Assent was granted to Bill C-44, the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, making significant changes to the Canada Labour Code (“Code”). Now more changes are coming! Earlier this month, Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code […]
November 16, 2017 With December quickly approaching, company holiday parties are right around the corner. Here is a list of DO’S and DON’TS to help ensure that your company ends up on Santa’s ‘nice’ list this year! DO restrict alcohol consumption If you plan on serving alcohol at the Company holiday party, it is important […]
November 2, 2017 Mr. Nemirovski, a 40 year old product manager at Socast Inc. (the “Company”), was terminated without cause after 19 months of service. It took Mr. Nemirovski more than nine (9) months to find alternative employment, which ultimately paid less than his previous job. The Company refused to provide a reference letter and […]
October 19, 2017 A private member has introduced a bill proposing the addition of four new protected grounds to the Ontario Human Rights Code (“Code”). As many of you know, the Code was established in 1962 and provides protection against discrimination in employment as well as in other spheres such as housing, contracts, goods, services […]
October 5th, 2017 As a follow-up to our June 2, 2017 alert regarding the proposed changes to the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000, (the “ESA”), employers should be aware that the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs (the “Committee”) adopted significant amendments to Bill 148, The Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017 (“Bill 148”), […]