Considerations for Returning to the Workplace
Considerations for Returning to the Workplace As Ontario eases several restrictions and as more employees continue to receive full vaccinations, employers are increasingly turning their mind to recalling their staff back to work in the office. While each workplace will have its own unique considerations, a flexible plan which guides such a return can ease […]
Severance Pay Must Consider Global Payroll
Severance Pay Must Consider Global Payroll Under section 64 of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), employees in Ontario with more than five years of service are entitled to severance pay in addition to termination pay if their employer has a payroll of at least $2.5 million at the time of termination. How that payroll […]
Court Rules COVID-19 Layoffs Not Grounds for Constructive Dismissal
Court Rules COVID-19 Layoffs Not Grounds for Constructive Dismissal Since the introduction of the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave (IDEL) on May 29, 2020, there has been significant uncertainty surrounding its interaction with the common law. Unilateral impositions of layoffs are traditionally grounds for claims for constructive dismissal, entitling the laid off employee to pay-in-lieu of […]
Court Rules Constructive Dismissal for Employees Laid Off for Covid-19
Court Rules Constructive Dismissal for Employees Laid Off for Covid-19 Ontario courts continue to provide guidance with respect to layoffs caused by Covid-19. In the recently released decision of Ristanovic v. Corma Inc., 2021 ONSC 3351, Justice Dunphy held that two employees who were laid off at the onset of Covid-19 had been constructively dismissed. […]
The Impact of Pregnancy on Notice Periods
The Impact of Pregnancy on Notice Periods: Nahum v. Honeycomb Hospitality Inc The Ontario Superior Court’s recent decision in Nahum v. Honeycomb Hospitality Inc. demonstrates the impact that pregnancy can have on assessing reasonable notice owed to employees terminated on a without cause basis. While the often cited Bardal factors (i.e., an employee’s length of […]
IDEL Layoffs Constitute a Constructive Dismissal
IDEL Layoffs Constitute a Constructive Dismissal – Important Update from the Ontario Superior Court Since the introduction of the Infectious Disease Emergency Leave in May 2020, there has been great speculation as to its impact on the ability of employees who have been laid off due to COVID-19 to claim constructive dismissal. Pre-pandemic, most layoffs would constitute […]
The Costly Consequences of Failing to Abide by Termination Clauses
The Costly Consequences of Failing to Abide by Termination Clauses A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court, Perretta v. Rand A Technology Corporation, 2021 ONSC 2111, demonstrates that even the most binding and enforceable termination clauses can be voided by employer conduct. The Plaintiff, Ms. Perretta, was terminated in 2018 after 5.5 years of […]
The Costly Consequences of an Improper Workplace Investigation
ONSC Reminds Employers of the Costly Consequences of an Improper Workplace Investigation A recently released decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice serves as a sobering reminder to employers of the high threshold of misconduct which must be met before an employee can successfully be terminated for cause, as well as the importance of […]
Call Me By My Name: The Cultural Significance of Names in the Workplace
Call Me By My Name: The Cultural Significance of Names in the Workplace Dale Carnegie once said “a person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” There is a great deal of truth to this. Being addressed by our name does more for us than elicit an […]
The New Virtual Reality: Harassment In The Work From Home Age
The New Virtual Reality: Harassment In The Work From Home Age You have been asked to present to your company over Zoom. The presentation is going well, and you skillfully ignore your cell phone buzzing quietly on your desk. After you finish to strong applause, you finally get the chance to exhale and check your […]