As in most areas of the law, Ontario employment law is a complex and evolving area of law that affects both businesses and employees. Not only do the rules that govern workplaces come from legislation and regulations, but new rules are often created in court cases (called "caselaw"). As a result, it
What is a Fixed-Term Employment Contract?
In Ontario law, an employment relationship can be based on a simple verbal understanding and agreement, or it can be codified in writing. This is call an employment contract. The purpose of an employment contract is to set out in detail all of the terms and conditions of the relationship between an
What is a Severance Package in a Wrongful Dismissal Claim?
Employee Rights Upon Termination of Employment In Ontario employment law, a severance package is a binding legal contract between an employer and a former employee that sets out the terms and conditions governing the end of an employment relationship. Amongst other things, it outlines the
Understanding and Reviewing Employment Contracts in Ontario
As with any area of business where parties are engaged in dealings with each other, they have typically agreed or come to some sort of understanding of what terms and conditions their relationship will include. For instance, in a commercial tenancy agreement, the parties will have agreed to the
Employer’s Duty to Accommodate under Ontario Human Rights Law
Under the Human Rights Code, all employers have a duty to accommodate to the point of undue hardship all the needs of people with specific personal characteristics, including disabilities. The main goal is to make sure they have equal opportunities, equal access and can enjoy equal benefits as all
Understanding Wrongful Dismissals in Ontario
How Does Termination of Employment Work in Ontario? As employment lawyers, we generally advise our employer clients to conduct a regular employment contract review (or at least annually) to ensure they are up-to-date, especially since employment law in Ontario is constantly changing with new court
Court Requires Employer to Moral Damages for Bad Conduct during Employee’s Termination
In the recent case called Teljeur v. Aurora Hotel Group, 2023 ONSC 1324, the Ontario Superior Court decision provides an important reminder for employers about always acting with fairly and properly when terminating employees, to avoid having to pay employees moral damages in addition to a severance
Temporary Layoff? Is Employee’s Silence a Tacit Agreement to a Constructive Dismissal? Court Says “No”
Ontario Court of Appeal Says Silence Does Not Equal Condonation for Temporary Layoff In Ontario, many employment lawyers guide both employees and employers with issues of unpaid temporary layoffs, which is a sensitive topic - and rightfully so. Quite often, we find that employers mistakenly