As we discussed in a previous blog, the decision in Waksdale v. Swegon North America Inc., 2020 ONCA 391 has an impact on the enforceability of most employment contracts in Ontario. When the decision was rendered, it left many employers scrambling to properly update their employment contracts, while providing a far greater number of dismissed […]
As we trudge through the ninth month of the COVID-19 global pandemic, you are no doubt weary of the overused clichés and underwhelming messages that we are “all in this together”. While the war to combat and ultimately conquer COVID-19 is a collective one, daily survival on all fronts is very much an individual battle. […]
COVID-19: Refusing to Attend the Workplace Due to COVID-19 Concerns The American spiritual teacher, author, and philosopher Vernon Howard wrote that our freedom can be measured by the number of things we can walk away from. In Ontario, an employee is free to walk away from and refuse to return to work if an employer […]
Bruce Dickinson, the esteemed singer-songwriter, said that nothing lasts forever but the certainty of change. While the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic remains unknown, we can be certain that it will not last forever and, until it is resolved, we will continue to live through a period of unprecedented change. For some, such change takes […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it many new challenges to our world, and in particular, our economy. With already limited business operations in order to abide by government restrictions and a second-wave of infections now upon us, it is likely that more Canadians will not be called back to their jobs or will now […]
Losing your job due to layoffs, company insolvency or other reasons may create a period of financial instability in your life. You may have the skills, experience and network to land another job fairly quickly, but in these uncertain economic times, there are no guarantees. Fortunately, the government of Ontario requires certain employers to provide […]
VICE & HUNTER LLP is pleased to welcome Victoria Lamontagne to the firm. In 2018, Victoria joined Vice & Hunter LLP as a summer student and proceeded to complete her articles in 2019/2020. As a student, Victoria gained valuable experience in a wide range of areas, including: employment law, wills and estate, real estate transactions, […]
Enforceability of Termination Clauses When starting a new job, an individual is usually required to sign an employment agreement, which is a document that sets out the obligations of both the employee and the employer. Often times, an employment agreement…
Overview On May 29, 2020, the Ontario government announced critical changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (“ESA”). The amendments allow an employer to unilaterally reduce an employee’s wages or hours of work without necessarily invoking the ESA’s notice and…
During the global Covid-19 pandemic, employers must carefully manage their responsibilities for workplace health and safety. In Ontario, employers are required to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act to protect their workers from a hazardous workplace. A hazardous…