Sources of Employment Law in Ontario Employment law is a complicated area of the law governed by a diverse set of legal rules found in a combination of statute, common law and contracts. Specifically, for provincially-regulated employees in Ontario, employment law rules are found in the
Ontario Employment Law Update – Right-to-Disconnect Policies – What You Should Know
Last week, Ontario's Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021 received royal assent, which means it is now official law. As a result of this development, many areas of workplace law in Ontario will be impacted, most notably the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000. In this post, we will highlight
End of Employee Non-Competition Agreements in Ontario?
No More Employee Non-Competition Clauses in Ontario? Last month, the Ontario government introduced "Bill 27, Working for Workers Act, 2021." Among other things, the proposed law would amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA") to specifically prohibit employers from "entering into" an
Can Employers Terminate Employment for Not Complying with Mandatory Vaccination Policy?
Can an Employer's Vaccination Policy Result in Termination of Employment? There is an ongoing struggle in Ontario workplaces regarding how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic - can an employer force employees to take a COVID-19 vaccination as a term of their employment? This question hinges
Employment Contract Termination Clause Found Illegal – Severance Package Entitlement
Under Ontario employment law, an employee's relationship with their employer is governed by an employment contract. Although this is often found in a written document, usually it is through a simple verbal agreement. Among many other reasons, employment contracts are crucial for outlining each
An Employee’s Failure to Mitigate Can Reduce Severance Pay – Recent Court Decision
An Employee's Failure to Mitigate Reduces Severance Pay Once an employee's job is terminated, they are usually entitled to receive a financial severance package from their employer. Contrary to common misconceptions, severance pay is not intended to punish an employer for terminating the employee's
Just Cause for Termination of Employment
Ontario Termination of Employment for Just Cause In Ontario employment law, the courts often use exceptional words to describe the rare circumstances where an employer can lawfully terminate an employee's job on the spot - without prior notice or severance pay. This is called a termination for
No, You Do Not Have to Accept or Sign an Employer’s Severance Package Agreement. Here’s Why.
When an employe’s job is terminated, they are usually given documentation called a “termination package” (or “severance package”). This consists of a termination letter (confirming their employment is officially terminated), a severance pay offer, and a request for the employee to sign and provide