Tort of Internet Harassment As employment lawyers, we regularly assist employees with workplace harassment issues. Broadly speaking, Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act ("OHSA") defines it as: "engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker in a workplace that is
Termination of Employment in Ontario – Employer Obligations to their Employees
An Employee's Duty of Good Faith and Honesty in Employment Contracts - Termination of Employment Employment contracts are just like any other form of legally binding agreements, which are intended to set out the parties' respective rights and obligations underpinning their relationship. But apart
The “COVID-19 Bump” – Will a Global Pandemic Increase My Severance Package?
As the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic continues, it has caused a significant impact on the Canadian economy. While many companies have been able to sustain themselves, some businesses have been forced to cease operations permanently. The result is that many employees across Ontario have either been
New Toronto Workplace Covid-19 Rules – Ontario Employment Law
Covid-19 Workplace Requirements for Toronto Businesses In response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto has passed various measures to help employers contain the spread of COVID-19 at workplaces located in Toronto. While intended as "guidance," they are legal requirements that all
Federal Employers and Employees – New Canada Labour Code Workplace Harassment Protections
For Canadian workplaces that are federally-regulated under the Canada Labour Code, there will be new and revamped Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations, which came into effect on January 1, 2021. This is a very important development of which both employers and employees should be
Termination of Employment for Federally Regulated Employees
In Ontario, most non-unionized employees are familiar with the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA), which sets out the minimum rights of all employees in the workplace, including minimum wage, vacation pay, termination pay and severance pay. However, the ESA statute only applies to
Non-Compete Agreements in Ontario Employment Law
Non-competition agreements (or "non-competes”) have long been viewed as a great way for business owners to prohibit (or at least deter) former employees from taking confidential information, and using it to unfairly compete against it as a former employer. In Ontario, employment law generally
Age Discrimination – Employment Lawyer Ontario
Ontario Discrimination Law for Employees All employees in Ontario are protected from negative treatment by their employers by human rights law (i.e., discrimination). Depending on the type of company they work for, they are protected by a separate form of human rights law: Human Rights Code