Federal Government Promises Expansion of COVID-19 Support Programs and Additional Measures to Support Canadians Dealing with the Pandemic
On Wednesday, September 23, 2020, the federal government delivered its throne speech, which laid out several promises for the upcoming term in Parliament geared toward helping Canadians and Canadian business manage the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have outlined the key proposed measures below.
The Ontario Court of Appeal Clarifies Common Law of Reasonable Notice in the Purchase and Sale of a Business
In the purchase and sale of a business, it is essential that both seller and purchaser businesses consider the employment law implications of the transaction.
Recent Ontario Decision Finds that “Oppressive” Terms in Incentive Compensation Plans may be Unenforceable due to Lack of Sufficient Notice
A recent Ontario decision is instructive that employers must make clear attempts to bring to an employee’s attention any contractual terms that limit the employee’s entitlement to bonus or incentive compensation post-dismissal.
Fall 2020 Newsletter
This edition focuses on real world scenarios being faced by employers to help guide you through your reopening.
Return to Work Case Studies from the Front Lines – Case Study #10
Addressing Legitimate Safety-Based Work Refusals During the COVID-19 Pandemic With the start of the 2020-2021 school year, more and more employers are beginning to return employees to working in-person after months of working from home. In doing so, it is crucial for employers to understand how to respond appropriately to legitimate safety-based work refusals during […]
Ontario Has Extended the Temporary Rules for Layoffs and Deemed Leaves
On September 3, 2020, the Ontario government extended the period during which employers can temporarily lay off non-unionized employees for reasons related to COVID-19 without it being deemed a termination of employment. This is a major development that will give many Ontario employers struggling to recover from the business impact of COVID-19 more time before […]
Return to Work Case Studies from the Front Lines – Case Study #9
</table How the Employer Met its Legal Obligations How the Employer Could Have Exposed Itself to Liability Had a current workplace harassment policy HR acted in accordance with the policy Promptly commenced an investigation into the allegations Not ensuring that incidents and complaints of harassment were investigated Not providing training sufficient training to supervisors (managers) […]
Return to Work Case Studies from the Front Lines – Case Study #8
Risks of Physical Disability Discrimination in Light of COVID-19 Prevention Policies Across Canada, most employers have heightened health and safety obligations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to employees and others in the workplace, including through specific rules and guidelines that employers must follow in order to meet their legal obligations. In meeting these new […]
Return to Work Case Studies from the Front Lines – Case Study #7
Back to School During a Pandemic: Risks, Considerations and Best Practices for Employers As employers continue to adapt their employees’ working arrangements amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a new challenge has arisen as they must consider the implications of the unprecedented and varied manner in which employees’ children will be returning to school for the […]
Return to Work Case Studies from the Front Lines – Case Study #6
Diversity and Inclusion Considerations: Addressing Microaggressions in the Workplace Over the past few months, businesses have been dealing with numerous challenges. While many of the key considerations for employers navigating their return to work are very obviously connected to the COVID-19 pandemic—such as accommodation, risk assessments, and mental health considerations, all of which we’ve […]