One employment law topic that is rarely discussed is an employer's legal obligations (and an employee's legal rights) when it comes to employee voting rights in elections, be it municipal, provincial or federal. Constitutional Rights to Participate in an Election From a broader perspective, the
Experiencing Change to Your Job at Work? Employee Tips on How to Manage
Can an Employer Make Changes to Your Job? Generally speaking, an employer in Ontario cannot make significant negative changes to an employee’s terms or conditions of employment without their consent or permission. However, one key exception could be if the employee has signed a legally
Personal Liability of Corporate Directors for Wrongful Dismissal Severance Package
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Directors Could be Liable to Pay Wrongfully Dismissed Employee The Oppression Remedy In Canada, most business legislation (such as the Ontario Business Corporations Act and the Canada Business Corporations Act) allow for a legal claim for an "oppression remedy." In
Ontario Court Awards Employee 27-Month Severance Package
Wrongful Dismissal Notice Period Cap No More: Another Court Awards Employee 27-Month Severance Package In a recent case called Milwid v. IBM Canada Ltd. 2023 ONSC 490, an Ontario court awarded an employee 27 months' pay in lieu of notice in a successful wrongful dismissal claim. This is an
Employee or Independent Contractor? How Do I Know?
Employee vs Independent Contractor In Ontario, both workers and businesses commonly confront a thorny question of whether their arrangement can be characterized as an independent contractor or employment relationship. Typically, this issue arises once the business relationship ends and the worker
Employment Contract “Saving Clause”: Not Always an Employer’s Saving Grace in Wrongful Dismissals
As employment lawyers in Ontario, we are regularly called upon to review employment contracts. Oftentimes, employment lawyers assisting with looking over an employment contract in the context of negotiating its terms (especially severance pay) before an employee begins their new job, while at other
Thinking of Changing an Employment Contract? Don’t Forget Changed Substratum
Employee Promotions, Changed Substratum and Constructive Dismissal In any workplace context, employers generally have a need to maintain flexibility in order adapt to changing circumstances, economic conditions and workforce. Shortly after the Canadian economy began to rebound from the COVID-19
Ontario Employer’ Bad Faith Conduct Results in Aggravated/Moral Damages
Misbehaving Employers Dinged with Significant Damages Award in Wrongful Dismissal Claim There has been a recent trend in wrongful dismissal cases that reflect a clear and resounding message to Ontario businesses: the courts will not tolerate any breach by an employer of its duty of good faith,