Are you an employer using fixed-term employment contracts and wondering how to avoid costly legal pitfalls?
Ontario’s recent Steele v. City of Barrie decision provides key insights on how to use FTECs effectively, minimizing risks like paying out full contracts or unintentionally creating indefinite-term employees. Here’s what you need to know. Continue Reading Navigating Fixed-Term Contract Risks: Essential Lessons for Ontario Employers
Many employers in Ontario are becoming aware, whether through news articles, or painful and costly first-hand experiences, that employees can be owed significant entitlements upon termination.
As we have explored in more detail in our previous blog posts, employers may owe terminated employees much more than was promised in the employment contract if a court determines that the contract’s termination clause isn’t legal. Continue Reading Please Come Back! Strategies for Navigating Termination Demands
Have you ever wondered if there’s a way to defend against Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) charges beyond the usual due diligence defence?
It turns out, that there is—a little-known and often misunderstood defense called Officially Induced Error (OIE).Continue Reading Further Defenses to OHSA Charges: Officially Induced Error
Ontario’s employment landscape has shifted significantly with the introduction of the new licensing regime for temporary help agencies (THAs) and recruiters. This change, effective from July 1, 2024, mandates that all THAs and recruiters operating in Ontario must hold a valid license. Employers need to understand these changes, their implications, and the risks of non-compliance to ensure their operations remain legally compliant.Continue Reading Understanding Ontario’s New Temporary Help Agency and Recruiter Licensing Regime: What Employers Need to Know
In workplace safety, adherence to the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is paramount. Welcome to the third blog in our OHSA series. Discover how previous regulatory convictions impact sentencing for new OHSA violations. Read our previous blogs here and here.
Convictions for violations of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) frequently result in significant fines for both corporate entities and individuals. Furthermore, individual defendants may face incarceration if the breaches in question involve significant aggravating factors.Continue Reading How do prior regulatory convictions affect sentencing outcomes for new OHSA violations?
For most employers we consult with, preparing and distributing employee handbooks seems like just one obvious step in setting up or maintaining a healthy workplace.
While employee handbooks can be a great tool to help organize the do’s and don’ts of the workplace along with important (and sometimes legally required) employer policies, you may not be aware of some of the potential problems lurking in your handbook.Continue Reading The Perks and Pitfalls of Employee Handbooks
Defenses to OHSA Charges
Introduction to Due Diligence
Have you ever wondered what happens if your workplace faces charges under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)or other similar legislation?
What steps should you take, and what defences are available to you? Navigating these charges can be complex, but understanding the due diligence defence is crucial.Continue Reading OHSA Series: Due Diligence Primer
In many industries right now, businesses are fighting not just for clients, customers, and market share but to attract and retain good talent.
If you’ve managed to recruit an employee from a competitor – congrats! But before you put together the onboarding package and schedule the welcome lunch, here are a few steps to take to avoid any potential legal headaches: Continue Reading What to know before you hire from a competitor?
Attention employers and job seekers! As a result of some incoming changes to the Employment Standards Act, job postings are about to look different!
Ontario’s Working For Workers Four Act received Royal Assent on March 21, 2024. And now, a brief interlude on Ontario’s law-making process in case you’ve forgotten: Royal Assent is the last step in the process that makes a Bill law.Continue Reading Attention Employers: Legal Changes Coming to Job Posting Requirements