The Impact of Covid-19 On Common Law Notice Periods
The Impact of Covid-19 On Common Law Notice Periods With the significant increase of terminations arising from the pandemic, both employers and employees have been contemplating the impact that the pandemic will have on notice periods. In determining the appropriate notice period for terminated employees who are entitled to common law reasonable notice, courts will […]
Out of this World – What We Can Learn from Julie Payette
Out of this World – What We Can Learn from Julie Payette “Yelling, screaming, aggressive conduct, demeaning comments and public humiliations.” These were some of the words used by staff members at Rideau Hall to describe their working environment under the leadership of Canada’s former Governor General Julie Payette and her Secretary, Assunta Di Lorenzo. […]
The Struggle is Real: A Closer Look at Workplace Mental Health in 2021
A Closer Look at Workplace Mental Health in 2021 In many ways, this lockdown is far more challenging than the initial one in March and April of 2020. Instead of an impending Spring, we are in the thick of what may become a long and cold winter. While a vaccine has been developed, uncertain rollout […]
Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Employees Upheld
Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Employees Upheld A recently released arbitral decision, Caressant Care Nursing & Retirement Homes v Christian Labour Association of Canada, 2020 CanLII 100531 (ON LA), addressed the issue of mandatory COVID-19 testing in the workplace. As many workplaces struggle to maintain safe work environments while respecting employee privacy, this decision provides insight […]
Flight Risk: Lessons Learned from Politicians Travelling Against their Own Advice
Flight Risk: Lessons Learned from Politicians Travelling Against their Own Advice It is more than likely that your December holidays were relatively uneventful. While a few days off are a nice break from work, rapidly increasing COVID numbers kept most Ontarians in their own homes – restricting traditional family visits and gatherings. This was especially […]
Risky Business: Importance of Consistent Messaging in Terminating Employees
Important of Consistent Messaging in Terminating Employees A recently released decision by the New Brunswick Court of Appeal serves as a reminder to employers to stand by their decision when asserting just cause. In Abrams v. RTO Asset Management, 2020 NBCA 57 (Abrams), a 55 year old employee with approximately thirty years of service was terminated […]
Party Like It’s 2020 – Some Do’s and Don’ts for your Virtual Office Party
Do’s and Don’ts for Virtual Office Party For most Ontario employees, December really is ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ While some businesses can have a frantic few weeks trying to close out their affairs for the year end, most workplaces are generally full of sweets and homemade goodies, cards and gift baskets from […]
Keeping the Faith, Avoiding ‘Time Theft’ With Good Policies…And A Little Trust
Keeping the Faith, Avoiding ‘Time Theft’ With Good Policies…And A Little Trust This year has taken working from home from being a once-occasional luxury to a practical necessity. Once something only seen on the Jetsons, advances in technology had begun to make working from home a viable solution for some businesses throughout the past […]
Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020
Introducing the Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020 On Friday, November 20, 2020, the Ontario Government enacted the new Supporting Ontario’s Recovery and Municipal Elections Act, 2020 (the “Act”). Employers should be aware of this new piece of legislation, as it contains several provisions which impact Ontario business owners and employers as they navigate […]
Red, White, and Even Blue…Just Not in The Office
We’ve just come through a major US election, one which polarized not just that country but held much of the world in its grasp. Rarely have two parties shown such a deep divide in their ideas and beliefs, which has led in turn to a divisive political climate. Even in Canada, it is difficult to […]